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Explanatory Depth in Primordial Cosmology: A Comparative Study of Inflationary and Bouncing Paradigms

Wolf, William J. and Thebault, Karim P Y (2022) Explanatory Depth in Primordial Cosmology: A Comparative Study of Inflationary and Bouncing Paradigms. [Preprint]

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Abstract

We develop and apply a multi-dimensional conception of explanatory depth towards a comparative analysis of inflationary and bouncing paradigms in primordial cosmology. Our analysis builds on earlier work due to Azhar and Loeb (2021) that establishes initial condition fine-tuning as a dimension of explanatory depth relevant to debates in contemporary cosmology. We propose dynamical fine-tuning and autonomy as two further dimensions of depth in the context of problems with instability and trans-Planckian modes that afflict bouncing and inflationary approaches respectively. In the context of the latter issue, we argue that the recently formulated trans-Planckian censorship conjecture leads to a trade-off for inflationary models between dynamical fine-tuning and autonomy. We conclude with the suggestion that explanatory preference with regard to the different dimensions of depth is best understood in terms of differing attitudes towards heuristics for future model building.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Wolf, William J.williamjwolf2@gmail.com
Thebault, Karim P Ykarim.thebault@gmail.com
Keywords: Cosmology, Explanation, Fine-tuning, Inflation, Bouncing Cosmology, Hot Big Bang Model
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Depositing User: Mr. William Wolf
Date Deposited: 24 Oct 2022 17:05
Last Modified: 24 Oct 2022 17:05
Item ID: 21303
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Date: 24 October 2022
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/21303

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