Ontological Prerequisites for the Emergence of Scientific Cosmology in the Context of the Emergence and Development of the Scientific Thinking

Abstract

The article argues that scientific cosmology, the study of the Universe’s origin, evolution, and structure, remains an essential and integral part of scientific thinking. The article traces the roots of scientific thinking back to ancient Greek philosophy, particularly the work of Plato and Aristotle. These philosophers were the first to provide a clear justification for scientific knowledge, laying the foundation for its development in subsequent centuries. However, modern science no longer accepts their justifications as definitive. This raises the question: how can scientific thinking function without the traditional foundations laid by the Greeks? The article proposes a solution: general concepts can objectively exist as a property of the inherent uniformity and isotropy of space and time. This is not limited to just geometric and physical forms but extends to social, cultural, and other realms. Space can be understood as having dimensions, sets of characteristics used to define an object. These “spaces” are abstract constructs humans create to solve specific problems. The same object can occupy homogenous or heterogeneous spaces, depending on the problem being tackled. Time, unlike space, is irreversible and intrinsically anisotropic. However, it can be considered quasi-isotropic and quasi-homogeneous in some specific cases. The development of these concepts of homogeneity and heterogeneity in both physical (geometric) space and time constitutes the foundation of scientific cosmology.