Unity and diversity, love and conflict: an exploration of the philosophy of life in C.S. Lewis's Cosmic Trilogy

Abstract

The subject of this thesis is to explore the philosophy of life that informs C.S. Lewis's Cosmic Trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra and That Hideous Strength). These texts are "spiritual adventures" which exemplify Lewis's phenomenology of spiritual progress - the movement from self-centredness to Other-centredness. I perform a close reading of the trilogy and attempt to understand the way(s) in which the three major thematic threads - Conflict, Love, and the relationship between Unity and Diversity - all contribute to the proposed phenomenology of the spirit. In the final chapter, I use Kierkegaard's "stages in life's way" (the aesthetic, ethical and religious) as a structural frame for understanding the trilogy's dialectical movement. I also take the unusual step of codifying the fruits of my exploration into what I call 'the Cosmic Manifesto,' which serves as my creative engagement with the results of the philosophical exploration. My research shows that the philosophy of life is expressed through a tripartite spiritual journey. The traveller firstly visits the sphere of Mars, which entails developing clear perception and overcoming fear of the Other. Next, the traveller must pass through the sphere of Venus, where - through courageous action on behalf of the Other - s/he learns the nature of self-sacrificial love. Successfully traversing these two stages, the traveller then apprehends the spirit of Harmonia, the love-child of Mars and Venus. As a result, the ideal relation between the self and the Other - unity in diversity - is discovered. I conclude that the philosophy of life underlying the trilogy is both aesthetically, ethically and religiously rich, and is an insightful perspective on a "life worth living."