Linford, Daniel (2023) On the Boundary of the Cosmos. Foundations of Physics, 53 (76). ISSN 0015-9018
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Abstract
Intuitively, the totality of physical reality -- the Cosmos -- has a beginning only if (i) all parts of the Cosmos agree on the direction of time (the Direction Condition) and (ii) there is a boundary to the past of all non-initial spacetime points such that there are no spacetime points to the past of the boundary (the Boundary Condition). Following a distinction previously introduced by J. Brian Pitts, the Boundary Condition can be conceived of in two distinct ways: either topologically, i.e., in terms of a closed boundary, or metrically, i.e., in terms of the Cosmos having a finite past. This article proposes that the Boundary Condition should be posed disjunctively, modifies and improves upon the metrical conception of the Cosmos's beginning in light of a series of surprising yet simple thought experiments, and suggests that the Direction and Boundary Conditions should be thought of as more fundamental to the concept of the Cosmos's beginning than classical Big Bang cosmology.
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| Item Type: | Published Article or Volume | ||||||
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| Keywords: | Cosmology, Philosophy of Time, Philosophy of Physics | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Physics > Astrophysics Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory General Issues > Science and Religion |
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| Depositing User: | Mr. Daniel Linford | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 14 Aug 2023 13:18 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 14 Aug 2023 13:18 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 22407 | ||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Foundations of Physics | ||||||
| Publisher: | Springer | ||||||
| DOI or Unique Handle: | 10.1007/s10701-023-00718-6 | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Physics > Astrophysics Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory General Issues > Science and Religion |
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| Date: | 2023 | ||||||
| Volume: | 53 | ||||||
| Number: | 76 | ||||||
| ISSN: | 0015-9018 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22407 |
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