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| '''Cosmology''', from the ]: κοσμολογία (κόσμος world + λογια discourse) is the study of the |
'''Cosmology''', from the ]: κοσμολογία (κόσμος world + λογια discourse) is the study of the universe in its totality. It describes disparate fields studied by ], ] and ]. | ||
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| *''']''' is a branch of ] and ], which deals with the study of very early universe (the ]) and of the universe on its very largest scales. | |||
| Physical cosmology is the branch of ] and ], which deals with the study of the physical origins of the universe and of the universe on its very largest scales. In its earliest form it was what is now known as ] the study of the ]. The Greek philosophers ], ] and ] proposed different cosmological theories. In particular, the ] ] was the accepted theory to explain the motion of the heavens until ], and subsequently ], ] and ] proposed a ] system in the ]. | |||
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| With ] and the 1687 publication of ], the problem of the motion of the heavens was finally solved. Newton provided a physical mechanism for ] and his ] allowed the ] in previous systems, caused by gravitational interaction between the planets, to be resolved. A fundamental difference between Newton's cosmology and those preceding it was the ] that the bodies on earth obey the same ]s as all the celestial bodies. This was a crucial philisophical advance in physical cosmology. | |||
| Modern scientific cosmology arose in ] with ]'s publication of his theory of ]. Prior to this, physicists' prejudices had led them to assume that the universe was static and unchanging. The general theory of relativity, however, was the first physical theory in which it was meaningful to address questions of the origins and age of the observable universe, and it was found that the theory was not amenable to a static universe. Thus the ] theory was proposed by ] and confirmed by ]'s discovery of the recession of distant galaxies and the discovery of the ] by ] and ] in ]. | |||
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| ⚫ | ] is the branch of ] that deals with the world as the totality of space, time and all phenomena. See also, ]. | ||
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| *]s: Many ]s have cosmological interpretations of the origin of the universe: | *]s: Many ]s have cosmological interpretations of the origin of the universe: | ||
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| ***] is the religious description of the end of the universe. | ***] is the religious description of the end of the universe. | ||
| ''See also:'' ] for the ] group. | |||
| {{Disambiguation}} | |||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 19:06, 16 May 2005
Cosmology, from the Greek: κοσμολογία (κόσμος world + λογια discourse) is the study of the universe in its totality. It describes disparate fields studied by physicists, philosophers and theologians.
Physical cosmology
Physical cosmology is the branch of physics and astrophysics, which deals with the study of the physical origins of the universe and of the universe on its very largest scales. In its earliest form it was what is now known as celestial mechanics the study of the heavens. The Greek philosophers Aristarchus, Aristotle and Ptolemy proposed different cosmological theories. In particular, the geocentric Ptolemaic system was the accepted theory to explain the motion of the heavens until Nicolaus Copernicus, and subsequently Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler and Galileo Galilei proposed a heliocentric system in the 16th century.
With Isaac Newton and the 1687 publication of Principia Mathematica, the problem of the motion of the heavens was finally solved. Newton provided a physical mechanism for Kepler's laws and his law of universal gravitation allowed the anomalies in previous systems, caused by gravitational interaction between the planets, to be resolved. A fundamental difference between Newton's cosmology and those preceding it was the Copernican principle that the bodies on earth obey the same physical laws as all the celestial bodies. This was a crucial philisophical advance in physical cosmology.
Modern scientific cosmology arose in 1915 with Albert Einstein's publication of his theory of general relativity. Prior to this, physicists' prejudices had led them to assume that the universe was static and unchanging. The general theory of relativity, however, was the first physical theory in which it was meaningful to address questions of the origins and age of the observable universe, and it was found that the theory was not amenable to a static universe. Thus the big bang theory was proposed by Georges Lemaître and confirmed by Edwin Hubble's discovery of the recession of distant galaxies and the discovery of the cosmic microwave background radiation by Arno Penzias and Robert Woodrow Wilson in 1964.
Cosmology (metaphysics)
Cosmology is the branch of metaphysics that deals with the world as the totality of space, time and all phenomena. See also, Cosmogony.
Religious cosmology
- Origin beliefs: Many religions have cosmological interpretations of the origin of the universe:
- Cosmology in religion.
- Cosmology in the Bible.
- Cosmology (argument for the existence of God) in Christianity.
- Cosmology in Islam's Kalam.
- Eschatology is the religious description of the end of the universe.
- Cosmology in religion.
See also: Cosmology for the jazz group.
Category: