What is it like to be the universe?
Filozofija i Društvo 2025 DOI: 10.2298/fid2504811m (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Keywords | Intersubjectivity Identity music Quality philosophy Universe Epistemology Consciousness Temporality Realization probability |
| Key points | Argues that mystical experience may provide insight into cosmic subjectivity, which evidence suggests is of extraordinary quality and possibly involves multiple cosmic subjects interpreted through a modified Leibnizian monadology. |
Abstract
Cosmopsychism attributes subjectivity to the universe as a whole. What might that subjectivity be like? There are differing opinions in the philosophical literature, ranging from ?simply a mess? to highly advanced. Mystical experience, if it genuinely brings unity or identity with the universe, could provide some insight. The evidence points to conscious mind of extraordinary quality and perhaps a universe with many cosmic subjects, an intersubjectivity that can be interpreted through the lens of a modified Leibnizian monadology.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The mystical mind: probing the biology of religious experience | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis | 1983 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy | 1993 | Edited collection of essays | |
| Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mysticism and schizophrenia: A phenomenological exploration of the structure of consciousness in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 5
- Panpsychism and Priority Cosmopsychism Oxford University Press eBooks October 20, 2016
- Philosophy and Psychedelics Bloomsbury Academic eBooks 2022
- Does Mystical Experience Give Access to Reality? Religions October 18, 2022
- Cosmic Consciousness The Monist January 18, 2022
- Panpsychism and Spiritual Flourishing: Constructive Engagement with the New Science of Psychedelics Journal of Consciousness Studies 2021