[ **up: [[Anthropology]] | [[Astronomy]] | [[Metaphysics]]** ] --- # Cosmology [[2024-0529. Etymologically, cosmology means 'an account of the cosmos'.|Etymologically, cosmology means 'an account of the cosmos'.]][^1] Cosmology, like art and science, is a way of attempting to “[[Heisenberg argued that science and art are parallel attempts to describe the world.|describe the world]].”[^2] --- ## Cosmology: the science [[2024-0529. Scientific cosmology is the study of the universe via astronomy and physics, but it also has significant cultural impact.|'Scientific cosmology is the study of the universe through astronomy and physics.']][^3] [[2024-0529. Scientific definitions of cosmology range from narrow to broad.|Scientific definitions of cosmology 'range from the narrow, such as “the study of the universe”, to the broad (“the science, theory or study of the universe as an orderly system, and of the laws that govern it; in particular, a branch of astronomy that deals with the structure and evolution of the universe”).’]][^4] --- ### Anthropic principle [[2024-0728. The anthropic principle is based on how delicate the conditions necessary for life are, and the fact that life would not have been able to appear if any of the constants of nature had had a slightly different value.|The anthropic principle is based on how delicate the conditions necessary for life are, and the fact that life would not have been able to appear if any of the constants of nature had had a slightly different value.]][^5] Basically, [[2024-0728. Some cosmologists wonder whether the universe is tailor made for humans to live in.|some cosmologists wonder whether the universe is tailor made for humans to live in.]][^6] --- ## Cosmology: cultural impact [[2024-0529. Scientific cosmology is the study of the universe via astronomy and physics, but it also has significant cultural impact.|'However, cosmology also has a significant cultural impact. People construct anthropological cosmologies (notions about the way the world works), drawing in scientific theories in order to construct models for activities in disciplines, such as politics and psychology.']][^7] [[2024-0529. Early societies used the stars or planets to represent their rulers or guide their actions.|Early societies used the stars or planets to represent their rulers or guide their actions.]][^1] --- ### Anthropology [[2024-0529. Anthropological cosmologies are based on the idea that thoughts about the cosmos are integral to human cultural and social systems.|Anthropological cosmologies are based on the idea that thoughts about the cosmos are integral to human cultural and social systems.]][^2] [[2024-0529. Cosmology is 'the world view and belief system' based on a community's understanding of the universe.|‘The world view and belief system of a community based upon their understanding of order in the universe.’]][^8] [[2024-0529. To truly comprehend a culture we must have some sense of its cosmology.|‘… to truly comprehend a culture we must have some sense of its cosmology – the group’s conception of themselves in relation to the heavens.’]][^9] --- ## History ### Asia - [[Cosmology, Chinese|Chinese cosmology]] --- ### Europe [[2025-0322. Snorri wrote that ancient people saw the Earth was alive and ‘they realised that she was extremely old in years and mighty in nature. She fed all living things, and took to herself everything that died.’|Snorri, in his attempt to explain heathen religion, wrote that ancient people saw that the Earth was alive, and ‘they realised that she was extremely old in years and mighty in nature. She fed all living things, and took to herself everything that died.’]][^10] [^1]: Nicholas Campion, ‘[[Campion. ‘The Importance of Cosmology in Culture’, 2017.|The Importance of Cosmology in Culture: Contexts and Consequences]]’, in *Trends in Modern Cosmology*, ed. Abraao Jesse Capistrano De Souza (InTech, 2017), p. 4. [^2]: Nicholas Campion, ‘[[Campion. ‘The Importance of Cosmology in Culture’, 2017.|The Importance of Cosmology in Culture: Contexts and Consequences]]’, p. 5. [^3]: Nicholas Campion, ‘[[Campion. ‘The Importance of Cosmology in Culture’, 2017.|The Importance of Cosmology in Culture: Contexts and Consequences]]’, p. 3. [^4]: Nicholas Campion, ‘[[Campion. ‘The Importance of Cosmology in Culture’, 2017.|The Importance of Cosmology in Culture: Contexts and Consequences]]’, pp. 4–5. [^5]: Carlos A. Marmelada, ‘John Barrow and the anthropic cosmological principle’, *Group Science, Reason and Faith* (Universidad de Navarra), retrieved 28 July 2024, https://en.unav.edu/web/ciencia-razon-y-fe/john-barrow-y-el-principio-cosmologico-antropico. [^6]: Carlos A. Marmelada, ‘John Barrow and the anthropic cosmological principle’, *Group Science, Reason and Faith* (Universidad de Navarra), retrieved 28 July 2024. [^7]: Nicholas Campion, ‘[[Campion. ‘The Importance of Cosmology in Culture’, 2017.|The Importance of Cosmology in Culture: Contexts and Consequences]]’, pp. 4–5. [^8]: Timothy Darvill, in: Nicholas Campion, ‘[[Campion. ‘The Importance of Cosmology in Culture’, 2017.|The Importance of Cosmology in Culture: Contexts and Consequences]]’, p. 5. [^9]: George Gumerman and Miranda Warburton, in: Nicholas Campion, ‘[[Campion. ‘The Importance of Cosmology in Culture’, 2017.|The Importance of Cosmology in Culture: Contexts and Consequences]]’, p. 5. [^10]: Max Dashu, [[Dashu. 'Witches and Pagans_ Women in European Folk Religion, 700-1100', 2017.|Witches and Pagans: Women in European Folk Religion, 700-1100]] (Richmond, CA: Veleda Press, 2017), p. 30.