Kragh, Helge2007-07-062007-07-062007-07-061863-7388http://hdl.handle.net/2003/2442210.17877/DE290R-7114The 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.enPhysics & Philosophy ; 8cosmologyhistory of modern cosmologyKantscienceuniverse100530article (journal)