cosmovisiones

Cosmovisiones is a Spanish term used in philosophy, anthropology and cultural studies to denote the comprehensive set of beliefs, values, and assumptions through which a person or a culture interprets the world and acts within it. The word combines cosmos and visión and is closely related to the idea of a worldview or Weltanschauung; however, it often emphasizes the interpretation of reality within a broader cultural and existential frame, not only theoretical explanations.

A cosmovisión typically includes ontological assumptions about what exists and how beings relate to each other, epistemological assumptions about how knowledge is obtained, and axiological commitments about what is valuable. It also encompasses ethical norms, social practices, political arrangements, religious or spiritual beliefs, and aesthetic sensibilities. Because it is culturally embedded, a cosmovisión is transmitted through language, education, religion, myth, ritual, law, and art, and it can be religious, secular, or syncretic. It can shape everyday decisions as well as larger collective projects.

Across cultures, cosmovisiones are diverse and dynamic. Indigenous worldviews, for example, often stress interdependence between humans and nature, reciprocity, and stewardship; modern secular worldviews may prioritize empirical knowledge, individual rights, and rationalism; hybrid formations arise from historical contact, colonization, and globalization. Scholars analyze cosmovisiones to understand patterns of cohesion and conflict, cultural resilience, and social change, while remaining mindful of the risk of oversimplifying complex beliefs into a single framework for a group.