Modern Cosmology

Orion Nebula – site of star formation Hubble Telescope image

Monty Python’s Galaxy Song from “The Meaning of Life”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buqtdpuZxvk

http://www.care2.com/send/card/6043

Philosophical Preview

Two hundred years ago physical sciences were reductionistic and non- teleological. Biology was the scientific discipline most frequently associated with teleology and natural theology.

Darwinian evolution led to a non-teleological view of biology.

Philosophical Preview

Intelligent Design tries (not yet successfully) to return design as an explanation of biological origin and complexity

Is Natural Theology being reincorporated in cosmology?

Philosophical Preview

• “At the moment it seems as though science will never be able to raise the curtain on the mystery of creation. For the scientist who has lived by faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.” Robert Jastrow in God and the Astronomers.

History of Cosmological Thinking

• Recognition that the sun is one of a vast collection of stars comprising our galaxy, the Milky Way.

History of Cosmological Thinking

The static, Newtonian view of the cosmos was altered by a series of observations and debates.

Developmental hypotheses of the of the solar system, such as the nebular hypothesis.

History of Cosmological Thinking

• Debates beginning in the 18th century and lasting through the early 20th century regarding the nature of nebulae: incipient stars or distant galaxies?

• Observations of rotational velocity of spiral nebulae (1920) led astronomers of the Mt. Wilson Observatory to argue that they must be part of the Milky Way.

History of Cosmological

Thinking

Cepheid variable stars with “known” luminosities were used to calculate distances. Edwin Hubble (1923) observed a cepheid in the Andromeda Nebula so distant that it must be another galaxy.

After a decade of debate, most astronomers viewed the universe as immensely large.

History of Cosmological Thinking BIG BANG THEORY

Supernova in distant galaxies can also now be used to measure distance and expansion rates of the universe.

History of Cosmological Thinking BIG BANG THEORY

Astronomers measured a “red shift” in the light of nebular galaxies.

Hubble noted degree of red shift proportional to distance & (1929) proposed an expanding universe to explain the red shift.

This implied an ancient (13.8bya) origin for the universe.

History of Cosmological Thinking BIG BANG THEORY

Most astronomers considered the universe eternal.

British astronomer Fred Hoyle derided the “Big Bang” theory. He proposed (1940s) a steady state model of an expanding universe. It required continuous creation of new matter.

Is the universe eternal or of a definite age? Implications of a Big Bang origin concerned Hoyle.

History of Cosmological Thinking BIG BANG THEORY

Using relativity & quantum theory, cosmologists model how the “singularity” event 13.8bya could evolve into the current universe.

History of Cosmological Thinking BIG BANG THEORY

Cosmic background radiation and distant quasars consistent with Big Bang theory were observed in the 1960s.

History of Cosmological Thinking BIG BANG THEORY

Variation in cosmic background radiation consistent with a Big Bang was detected in the 1990s.

Does modern "big bang" cosmology encourage or discourage belief in "creation" or God?

Defining terms: What is meant by “creation”?

Models of Creation

• An initial one-time event

• Continuous emergence

• A dependent relationship

• A designer-engineer

• A creative artist

Does current cosmology suggest a “designed” universe?

Does modern "big bang" cosmology encourage or discourage belief in "creation" or God?

“At the moment it seems as though science will never be able to raise the curtain on the mystery of creation. For the scientist who has lived by faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.” Robert Jastrow in God and the Astronomers.

A “Fine-tuned” Universe?

• Life in the universe requires highly organized, complex structures capable of metabolism and reproduction

• This requires – long periods of time with stable

environemnts (assuming evolution)

– A variety of elements that with capacity for stability & change

– Usable energy sources

• Many conceivable universes would not sustain life. How many would?

A “Fine-Tuned” Universe?

Contingent qualities of a universe:

• Big Bang energy v force of gravity balanced 1 in 1059

• Ratios of matter/anti-matter

• Strength of nuclear forces to allow C, O & other heavier elements in supernovae

• …

Kepler’s 1604 supernova – source of C, O elements

A “Fine-Tuned” Universe?

Alternative explanations:

• A “designed” universe (contingency)

• Multiple universes (sequential or simultaneous)

• Universe options illusionary (necessity)

• Just infinitely, remarkably lucky…

Applying Occam’s Razor, falsifiability, etc.

Journey of the Universe

Are the “big history” stories described by modern science and religious stories such as Biblical Creation accounts competing narratives, separate narratives, complementary narratives, or the same deep narrative?

What is significant about Brian Swimme’s narration?

• Raising unanswered questions

• Awe and wonder

• Human uniqueness and responsibility

http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Universe-Mary-Evelyn-Tucker/dp/B00IE1B4ES/ref=sr_1_1_dvt_1_wnzw?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1416425755&sr=1-1&keywords=journey+of+the+universe