Another critical look at inflationary cosmology
Jul 17, 2024Supervisors:
Thesis: Master - ,
- ,
- Utrecht U.
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Abstract: (submitter)
I present an overview of the criticism of the theory of cosmological inflation of the
past 25 years. I argue that the three main problems motivating the inflationary
explanation are the flatness problem, the uniformity problem, and the structure
formation problem. The flatness problem has been resolved. In analysing the other
two problems, an alternative explanation emerges. This explanation relies on law-like
assumptions about the initial conditions of the universe. I claim that this is a proper
explanation. This places the inflationary explanation on par with an alternative
explanation. I argue that different extra-empirical considerations lead cosmologists
to prefer one above the other. The way forward lies in the middle: an amalgam of
the two explanations promises to be the most fruitful.References(139)
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