Metaphysical cosmology
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[edit] Metaphysics and the Single Intelligible Object
Cosmology was a subject of metaphysics before the Copernican Revolution. Especially since Einstein's theories, cosmology has been primarily concerned with physics (see Physical Cosmology) But the Great Ideas of the Western World [1] defines metaphysical cosmology as "holding the universe in your hand as if it was a single intelligible object," to which it must be added, "for the purpose of defining Man's place in the universe," not to mention the place of the person "holding" the universe. Physics takes the world apart piece by ever smaller piece, trying to figure out the puzzle of existence. Metaphysical cosmology puts the universe into one comprehensible object so that it may be examined as the whole. From this method, the "first science" of metaphysics can generate theories, but not science. According to [http://link http://http://www.pbs.org/faithandreason/gengloss/index-frame.html cosmology is a "branch of study concerned with the origins and nature of the universe." But this describes physical cosmology, as well. The difference between them is that physical cosmology takes a dim view of "theoretical" metaphysics; what cannot be proved by science has little account in physics. However, the epistemological principle of discovering "cosmos" from "chaos" has traditionally been to accept the findings of either the metaphysics or the science of cosmology, then "develop the consequences."[2] Metaphysical cosmology did not give way easily to physics. Copernicus developed the "heliocentric" theory of the universe, and when Galileo backed him up, the cosmology of the Roman Church, cosmology built on the solid foundation of Aristotle's metaphysics as introduced into the Church by Thomas Aquinas, received a shock heard throughout the Western World: the Earth was not the center of the universe. Galileo was put on trial for contradicting the Church, but his case won, with the resultant phenomenon of the "Copernican Revolution," so called ever since. Religious cosmologies still abound and can be found on the internet, as well as in libraries.
- The Great Ideas are the "Syntopicon" of the Great Books of the Western World, constituting Volumes II and III of 54 volumes.
- Dictionary of Philosophy; Dagobert D. Runes, Editor; 1968
