Final answer:
A universal consciousness is considered to be metaphysical, entailing the all-encompassing awareness beyond physical observation, often discussed in philosophical contexts involving cosmology, the hard problem of consciousness, and the existence of God.
Step-by-step explanation:
A universal consciousness is considered to be metaphysical. This concept typically refers to an all-inclusive awareness that permeates the universe. The metaphysical approach to universal consciousness is aligned with various philosophical discussions including those on cosmology, the existence of God, and the nature of reality. In metaphysics, the existence of universal consciousness expands beyond physical observation and into the realms of the phenomena that many believe to exist beyond the physical, such as mysticism and occultism.
Moreover, the metaphysical study of consciousness touches on the 'hard problem of consciousness,' which relates to the difficulty of explaining the awareness of being aware. Discussions of the mind, cosmos, and God often lead to cosmological and ontological arguments. These argue for the existence of a higher power or unified consciousness through experiential evidence (a posteriori) or through pure reasoning (a priori), much like how a geometer might understand the concept of a triangle.