Cosmogony
In ancient Greece, thinkers developed a cosmogony focused on the origin of matter, space, and time. This transition from Chaos to Cosmos formed a form of philosophical cosmogony distinct from modern empirical science. The Sumerian tablet containing parts of the Eridu Genesis offers another early model. It describes the creation of the world out of a primeval sea known as Abzu. These narratives dealt with many similar questions about origins without relying on experimental measurements.
A Big Bang model for the dynamics of the universe is widely agreed among cosmologists today. Like most physical models, these describe changes of state rather than initial conditions. Initial states are given by experimental measurements or by hypothesis in standard practice. In cosmology, the initial state would be the origin of the universe itself. It is considered a valid challenge to address but there are significant disagreements over even the form of acceptable answers. Few physical models are designed to determine those starting points directly.
Conceptually the model can be extrapolated back to time zero, yet this process cannot run all the way there. As the model follows smaller times, density exceeds the validity of general relativity. This point in time is called the Planck time. The observable universe is much more homogeneous than an extrapolated Big Bang can account for. Events on opposite sides of the horizon could not have mixed in the early universe and thus should not be homogeneous now. This problem is called the horizon problem because causality breaks down at that scale.
In this model the universe goes through a very short phase of intense expansion not predicted by general relativity. The expansion is so immense and fast that all pre-existing particles are diluted and replaced by emerging ones. Particles emerge from the field that drove inflation in a process called reheating. An initially homogeneous universe inflated by an enormous factor explains why we see homogeneous features across distances. Ordinary causality asserts these regions are independent, yet they share uniform properties today. When combined with other concepts, inflation becomes the consensus or standard model of cosmology.
Sean M. Carroll specializes in theoretical cosmology and field theory while explaining competing explanations for origins. One view holds that when the universe started to expand, the Big Bang occurred which evidently began it. The Hartle, Hawking state held by proponents such as Stephen Hawking asserts that time did not exist when it emerged along with the universe. This assertion implies that the universe does not have a beginning since time did not exist prior to it. Hence it remains unclear whether properties such as space or time emerged with the singularity and known universe.
Some methods of creation include the will or action of a supreme being or beings. Others involve the process of metamorphosis or the copulation of female and male deities. Creation myths may be etiological attempting to provide explanations for the origin of the universe. For instance Eridu Genesis contains an account where the universe was created out of a primeval sea. Another example is the ruler of gods in Tagalog mythology named Bathala who resembles various rulers within Philippine pantheons like Kaptan.
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Common questions
What is cosmogony in ancient Greece?
In ancient Greece, thinkers developed a cosmogony focused on the origin of matter, space, and time. This transition from Chaos to Cosmos formed a form of philosophical cosmogony distinct from modern empirical science.
How does the Big Bang model describe initial conditions?
Like most physical models, these describe changes of state rather than initial conditions. Initial states are given by experimental measurements or by hypothesis in standard practice.
What is Planck time in cosmology?
As the model follows smaller times, density exceeds the validity of general relativity at this point in time called the Planck time. The observable universe is much more homogeneous than an extrapolated Big Bang can account for.
Who explains competing explanations for origins in theoretical cosmology?
Sean M. Carroll specializes in theoretical cosmology and field theory while explaining competing explanations for origins. One view holds that when the universe started to expand, the Big Bang occurred which evidently began it.
What is Eridu Genesis about creation myths?
The Sumerian tablet containing parts of the Eridu Genesis offers another early model describing the creation of the world out of a primeval sea known as Abzu. These narratives dealt with many similar questions about origins without relying on experimental measurements.
All sources
18 references cited across the entry
- 1journalThe dichotomy of cosmogenyJonathan J. Halliwell — July 1989
- 2bookCosmogenesis: the growth of order in the universeOxford University Press — 1990
- 3encyclopediaA Dictionary of AstronomyIan Ridpath — Oxford University Press — 2012
- 4journalCosmogony TodayMichael Mark Woolfson — 1979
- 5bookAncient Greek cosmogonyAndrew Gregory — Duckworth — 2007
- 6webCosmology: The Study of the UniverseEdward J. Wollack — NASA — 10 December 2010
- 7bookCosmological PhysicsJ. A. Peacock — Cambridge University Press — 1998-12-28
- 8citationPhilosophy of CosmologyChristopher Smeenk et al. — Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University — 2017
- 9webA Universe from Nothing?Sean Carroll — 28 April 2012
- 10bookSpacetime and Geometry: An Introduction to General RelativitySean Carroll et al. — Pearson — 2003
- 11webCreation MythCharles Long
- 12webEridu Genesis Mesopotamia EpicEncyclopaedia Britannica, Inc — 20 July 1998
- 13journalThe Primeval OceanCharles Morris — 1897
- 14bookIntroduction to Mythology Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths, 4th ed.Eva Thury et al. — Oxford University Press — 2017
- 15bookAlpha: The myths of creationCharles H. Long — Scholars Pr — 1963
- 16bookThematic Guide to World MythologyLorena Laura Stookey — Bloomsbury Publishing USA — 2004
- 17bookMyth and KnowingScott A Leonard et al. — McGraw-Hill — 2004