Gītā-Inspired Panentheistic Cosmopsychism and Atheist Cosmopsychism
Gustavo Oliva de Oliveira
Philosophia November 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s11406-026-00966-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Goff's atheistic cosmopsychism cannot fully account for evil (by denying omnipotence) or fine-tuning (by denying omnibenevolence), and proposes that a panentheistic cosmopsychism inspired by the Bhagavad Gītā is superior because denying omnibenevolence aligns better with Gītā-based theological traditions, allowing it to address both problems. |
Abstract
Abstract Cosmopsychism is the view that the Cosmos is conscious. In this paper, I will argue that Goff’s atheistic cosmopsychism can neither fully account for the existence of evil by denying omnipotence nor for the fine-tuning of the universe by denying omnibenevolence. I will then offer a theistic version of cosmopsychism that can account for the problem of consciousness but also does a better job with evil and fine-tuning: Inspired by the Bhagavad Gītā, the form of cosmopsychism that will be discussed is panentheistic, i.e. a version of the view that God is in the Cosmos but is more than the Cosmos. I will show that this panentheistic version of cosmopsychism is superior to the atheist one as the denial of omnibenevolence seems to fit better with the theological traditions based on the Gītā, therefore allowing the view to account for both evil and fine-tuning.