Priority Cosmopsychism and the Advaita Vedānta
Philosophy East & West July 7, 2017 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1353/pew.2019.0002 via Semantic Scholar
Summary
The article critically evaluates the claim that contemporary priority cosmopsychism—the view that individual consciousness derives from a cosmic consciousness—parallels the Advaita Vedānta tradition. It argues that Advaita Vedānta's account of consciousness does not fit priority cosmopsychism, highlights key differences between the two views, and proposes an alternative way to position Advaita Vedānta within current debates on monism and panpsychism.
Study at a glance
| Design | theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The Advaita Vedānta account of consciousness is not an instance of priority cosmopsychism. |
Abstract
Abstract:The combination of panpsychism and priority monism leads to priority cosmopsychism, the view that the consciousness of individual sentient creatures is derivative of an underlying cosmic consciousness. It has been suggested that contemporary priority cosmopsychism parallels central ideas in the Advaita Vedānta tradition. This article offers a critical evaluation of this claim. It argues that the Advaitic account of consciousness cannot be characterized as an instance of priority cosmopsychism, points out the differences between the two views, and suggests an alternative positioning of the Advaitic canon within the contemporary debate on monism and panpsychism.