ISM Co-Founder Co-Edits Groundbreaking Volume Exploring AI Through Mythology and Depth Psychology

"Soul and the Machine" Features Contributions by ISM Members

The International Society of Mythology (ISM) is proud to announce the publication of Soul and the Machine: Depth Psychology, Myth and Artificial Intelligence, co-edited by ISM co-founder Jason D. Batt, Ph.D. and Dr. Jonathan Erickson. Published by Springer, this interdisciplinary volume brings together diverse scholarly perspectives examining the human-AI relationship through mythological frameworks and depth psychological inquiry.

The book features contributions from several ISM members and affiliates, including Dr. Glen Slater, Dr. Emily Lord-Kambitsch, ISM co-founder Lydia Griffiths, and Dr. Fujio Mandeville, among others. These scholars explore how ancient mythological patterns—from Narcissus and doppelgängers to mimetic seduction—illuminate contemporary anxieties and attractions surrounding artificial intelligence.

"This project embodies ISM's core mission of demonstrating mythology's vital relevance to contemporary challenges," said Batt. "By examining AI through the lens of depth psychology and myth, we're surfacing fundamental questions about consciousness, embodiment, and what distinguishes human experience from technological simulation."

By examining AI through the lens of depth psychology and myth, we're surfacing fundamental questions about consciousness, embodiment, and what distinguishes human experience from technological simulation.

The book was launched with a major webinar event on November 8, 2025, featuring three thematic panels: "Soul in the Stone" (ancient myths related to AI), "Machine & Psyche" (what makes humans unique), and "The Road Ahead" (current challenges and future directions). The day-long symposium brought together nine panelists for rigorous scholarly discourse on the recursive feedback loops between human and machine consciousness.

Soul and the Machine is now available through Springer.