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Pantheism and current ontology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2004

ERIC STEINHART
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ 07470

Abstract

Pantheism claims: (1) there exists an all-inclusive unity; and (2) that unity is divine. I review three current and scientifically viable ontologies to see how pantheism can be developed in each. They are: (1) materialism; (2) Platonism; and (3) class-theoretic Pythagoreanism. I show how each ontology has an all-inclusive unity. I check the degree to which that unity is: eternal, infinite, complex, necessary, plentiful, self-representative, holy. I show how each ontology solves the problem of evil (its theodicy) and provides for salvation (its soteriology). I conclude that Platonism and Pythagoreanism have the most divine all-inclusive unities. They support sophisticated contemporary pantheisms.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press

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