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| | '''Cosmology''', Gr.κοσμολογία the quantitative study of the [[universe|Universe]] | | '''Cosmology''', Gr.κοσμολογία the quantitative study of the [[universe|Universe]] |
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| − | == Metaphysical cosmology ==
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| − | [[Image:Universum.jpg|thumb|right|320px|[[Hand-colouring|Hand-coloured]] version of the anonymous [[Flammarion woodcut]](1888).]]
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| − | {{Main|Cosmology (metaphysics)}}
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| − | In [[philosophy]] and [[metaphysics]], cosmology deals with the world as the totality of space, time and all phenomena. Historically, it has had quite a broad scope, and in many cases was founded in religion. The ancient Greeks did not draw a distinction between this use and their model for the cosmos. However, in modern use it addresses questions about the Universe which are beyond the scope of science. It is distinguished from religious cosmology in that it approaches these questions using philosophical methods (e.g. [[dialectic]]s). Modern metaphysical cosmology tries to address questions such as:
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| − | *What is the origin of the Universe? What is its first cause? Is its existence necessary? (see [[monism]], [[pantheism]], [[emanationism]] and [[creationism]])
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| − | *What are the ultimate material components of the Universe? (see [[mechanism (philosophy)|mechanism]], [[dynamism]], [[hylomorphism]], [[atomism]])
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| − | *What is the ultimate reason for the existence of the Universe? Does the cosmos have a purpose? (see [[teleology]])
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| − | == Religious cosmology ==
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| − | [[Image:Hinducosm_Map1.svg|250px|thumb|Large scale structure of the Universe according to one [[Hindu cosmology]].]]
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| − | {{Main|Religious cosmology}}
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| − | Many world [[religion]]s have [[origin beliefs]] that explain the beginnings of the Universe and life. Often these are derived from [[scripture|scriptural]] teachings and held to be part of the faith's [[dogma]], but in some cases these are also extended through the use of philosophical and metaphysical arguments.
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| − | In some origin beliefs, the universe was [[cosmogony|created]] by a direct act of a [[deity|god or gods]] who are also responsible for the creation of [[human race|humanity]] (see [[creationism]]). In many cases, religious cosmologies also foretell the [[eschatology|end of the Universe]], either through another divine act or as part of the original design.
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| − | *Both [[Christianity]] and [[Judaism]] rely on the [[creation according to Genesis|Genesis narrative]] as a [[scripture|scriptural account]] of cosmology. See also [[Biblical cosmology]] and [[Tzimtzum]].
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| − | *[[Islam]] relies on understanding from the [[Qur'an]] as its major source for explaining cosmology. See [[Islamic cosmology]]. Also see ''[http://www.alislam.org/library/books/revelation/part_4_section_5.html The Quran and Cosmology]''
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| − | * Certain adherents of [[Buddhism]], [[Hinduism]] (See also [[Hindu cosmology]]) and [[Jainism]] believe that the Universe passes through endless cycles of creation and destruction, each cycle lasting for trillions of years (e.g. 331 trillion years, or the life-span of Brahma, according to [[Hinduism]]), and each cycle with sub-cycles of local creation and destruction (e.g. 4.32 billion years, or a day of Brahma, according to [[Hinduism]]). The [[Vedas|Vedic]] (Hindu) view of the world sees one true divine principle self-projecting as the divine word, 'birthing' the cosmos that we know from the monistic ''Hiranyagarbha'' or Golden Womb.
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| − | * A complex mixture of native Vedic gods, spirits, and demons, overlaid with imported Hindu and Buddhist deities, beliefs, and practices are the key to the [[Sri Lanka]]n cosmology.
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| − | *The [[Australian Aboriginal]] concept of ''[[Dreaming]]'' explains the creation of the universe as an eternal continuum; ''everywhen''. Through certain ceremonies, the past "opens up" and comes into the present. Each topographical feature is a manifestation of dormant creation spirits; each individual has personal Dreamings and ceremonial responsibilities to look after the spirits/land, determined at birth, within this belief framework.
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| − | Many religions accept the findings of physical cosmology, in particular the [[big bang]], and some, such as the [[Roman Catholic Church]], have embraced it as suggesting a philosophical first cause. Others have tried to use the methodology of science to advocate for their own religious cosmology, as in [[intelligent design]] or [[creationist cosmologies]].
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| − | == Esoteric cosmology ==
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| − | {{Main|Esoteric cosmology}}
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| − | Many [[Esoteric knowledge|esoteric]] and [[Occultism|occult]] teachings involve highly elaborate cosmologies. These constitute a "map" of the Universe and of states of existences and consciousness according to the [[worldview]] of that particular doctrine. Such cosmologies cover many of the same concerns also addressed by religious and philosophical cosmology, such as the origin, purpose, and destiny of the Universe and of [[consciousness]] and the nature of [[existence]]. For this reason it is difficult to distinguish where religion or philosophy end and esotericism and/or occultism begins.
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| − | Common themes addressed in esoteric cosmology are [[emanation]], [[Involution (metaphysics)|involution]], [[Spiritual evolution|evolution]], [[Epigenesis (creative intelligences)|epigenesis]], [[Plane (cosmology)|planes of existence]], hierarchies of [[List of deities|spiritual beings]], cosmic cycles (e.g., [[cosmic year]], [[Yuga]]), [[Yoga|yogic]] or spiritual disciplines, and references to [[altered states of consciousness]]. Examples of esoteric cosmologies can be found in modern [[Theosophy]], [[Gnosticism]], ''[[The Urantia Book]]'', [[Tantra]] (especially [[Kashmir Shaivism]]), [[Kabbalah]], [[Sufi cosmology|Sufism]], [[Surat Shabd Yoga|Surat Shabda Yoga]], [[Anthroposophy]], the [[Fourth Way]] teaching of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky and in ''[[The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception]],'' the Third Testament, a work of ''[[Martinus Thomsen]],'' as well as the book ''"[[God Speaks]]"'' by [[Meher Baba]].
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| − | ==References==
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| − | <references />
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| − | ===Book references===
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| − | *Hawley, John F. & Katerine A. Holcomb ''Foundations of Modern Cosmology''. Oxford University Press, Oxford: 1998.
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| − | *Hetherington, Norriss S. ''Cosmology: Historical, Literary, Philosophical, Religious, and Scientific Perspectives''. Garland Publishing, New York: 1993.
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| − | *[[Barry Long | Long, Barry]]. ''The Origins of Man and the Universe'' ISBN 0-9508050-6-8
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| − | *Martinus Thomsen's ''The Third Testament'' is about the explanation of life, everything inside it and the reason (or orgin) of it.
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| − | * [[Arthur Koestler]]'s ''[[The Sleepwalkers]]'' (1959) provides a scholarly study of the history of cosmology from the Chaldeans to Kepler.
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| − | == External links ==
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| − | {{Wiktionary}}
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| − | * [http://www.aip.org/history/cosmology/index.htm Cosmic Journey: A History of Scientific Cosmology] from the American Institute of Physics
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| − | * [http://www.atributetohinduism.com/Hindu_Cosmology.htm Hindu Cosmology]
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| − | * [http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/~icke/ps/CosmEquations.pdf Cosmology lecture notes] with a [[Wikipedia:List of GFDL content on the internet|GFDL license footer]]
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| − | * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kS_R9v_mwk Cosmology According to the Ancient Wisdom (Mystery Schools) youtube video (7.46 min) ]
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| − | * [http://www.martinus.dk/ Martinus Institute] is the website of the Martinus Institute, orginally created by Martinus Thomsen.
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| − | * [http://www.asterdomus.com.br/Artigo_a_massa_do_Universo.htm The Mass of the Universe, in AsterDomus Planetarium site (portuguese)]
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| − | [[Category: General Reference]]
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| − | [[Category: Physical Cosmology]]
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| | ==== [[Biology]][http://www.revisionscontrol.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Biology] ==== | | ==== [[Biology]][http://www.revisionscontrol.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Biology] ==== |
Works attributed to human sources.
Those academic disciplines which study the human condition.
Studies dealing with the languages, literature, history, art, and all aspects of the ancient Mediterranean world.
Study of the past, focused on human activity and leading up to the present day.
The symbols used for communication; the rules and applications of their usage.
φιλοσοφία from φίλος (philos) "beloved" & σοφία (sophia) "wisdom."
From L. re-ligare meaning to rebind.
- A broad subdivision of culture, composed of many expressive disciplines.
- Individual motion pictures or the field of film as an art form
- Opera is a form of musical and dramatic work in which singers convey the drama.
- The process of making artworks by printing, normally on paper.
- Three-dimensional objects, created as art.
- Dramatic performance where speech, either from written text (plays), or improvised is paramount.
Knowledge of 'observable' phenomena based on the scientific method.
The rational study of the universe understood as obeying rules or laws of natural origin.
The science of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere.
Cosmology, Gr.κοσμολογία the quantitative study of the Universe
The disciplines that examine phenomena related to living organisms.
The scientific study of matter at the atomic and molecular scale
The term for the sciences related to the planet Earth
Study of the fundamental constituents of the universe, their forces and interactions
The group of disciplines that study human aspects of the world using the scientific method.
A holistic discipline studying the integration of different aspects of the Social Sciences, Humanities, and Human Biology.
The study analyzing and describing the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth.
Teaching and learning, skills, knowledge, positive judgement and well-developed wisdom.
Study of earth in terms of physical, spatial, and cultural relationships.
Rules that warrant enforcement through formal processes.
A discipline that examines at the material, cognitive, and social aspects of human language.
The theory and practice of politics; descriptive analyses of political systems and political behaviour.
An academic and applied field involving the study of behavior and mental processes.
The study of society and human social action.
Study of abstract formal systems,i.e. logic, mathematics, & theoretical computer science, information theory, & statistics.
Theoretical foundations of information and computation; implementation and application in computer systems.
Quantification of data to maximize efficiency in storage & communications.
The study of the principles and criteria of valid inference and demonstration.
Knowledge centered on concepts as quantity, structure, space, and change
A mathematical science pertaining to the collection, analysis, interpretation or explanation, and presentation of data.
