Abstract
This article reviews epistemological issues that arise in cosmology, which is different from other subjects particularly because the universe is unique. A series of philosophical assumptions underlie our present-day spatially homogeneous and isotropic world models, whose assumed geometry is not directly testable because of limitations on what can be measured; alternative models are also viable. Nevertheless the standard model has strong support from evidence and can with full justification be adopted as a solid basis for cosmological investigation. However physical cosmology rests on, and is unable to investigate in terms of its own methods, a further series of metaphysical issues to do with the existence and nature of physical laws. Examination of these issues has of necessity to rest on appropriate philosophical and metaphysical approaches.
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Fundamental issues in cosmology have always been of major concern to Jayant Narlikar. It is thus a pleasure to dedicate this reflection on the nature of epistemology in cosmology to him, on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
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Ellis, G.F.R. (2000). The Epistemology of Cosmology. In: Dadhich, N., Kembhavi, A. (eds) The Universe. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 244. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4050-8_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4050-8_12
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