The Controversial Universe
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Date
2007-07-06T20:52:05Z
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A Historical Perspective on the Scientific Status of Cosmology
Abstract
The domain of cosmology is the universe, a singular concept, and basically
for this reason cosmology is a science that differs from other sciences. For a long
time there have been critical voices which argue that cosmology cannot be a
proper science on par with, say, nuclear physics or hydrodynamics. This kind of
critique goes a long way back in time, and I review it here in a historical
perspective, focusing on the century from 1870 to 1970. I suggest that there
are no good reasons to deny cosmology the status of a proper science. On the
other hand, I also consider it natural, and a sign of health, that such
foundational questions continue to be part of the cosmological discourse.
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Keywords
cosmology, history of modern cosmology, Kant, science, universe