Currently, the cosmology is a strand of studies of Astronomywhich deals directly with the origin of the Universe through the use of technological devices and advanced physical calculations. In the past, cosmology was used by the pre-Socratics to discover the possible origin of the cosmos through observations and speculations.
There were no technological instruments, so what they could do was observe with the naked eye what was at the its range, including elements found on the planet itself, and formulate reasoning based on their comments.
Meaning
The word cosmology has its root in the ancient Greek language, derived from the terms Cosmos (Universe) and logos(reason, rational organization). cosmology is the study of the universe, of your origin and of yours organization. The cosmologist's task is to determine what the origin of the Universe is, from scientific and rational way. Therefore, we can say, roughly, that cosmology is the study of the origin of the Universe, how it was formed, how it is organized and the elements that compose it.
Also access: Thomas Kuhn's Philosophy of Science
Cosmology and Philosophy
THE Philosophy Pre-Socratic Greek is closely linked to cosmology. In contrast to mythological narratives, the first philosophers tried to find the true origin of the Universe that, in a logical and rational way, made sense. Therefore, the early philosophers were cosmologists too..
cosmology and cosmogonies
The word cosmogony has the stems Cosmos (Universe) and agony (word that originated the word genesis, that is, creation). Before the emergence of Philosophy, who presented the origin of the Universe were the mythologies, through cosmogonic narratives. Greek mythological narratives present the origin of everything from the titans — Chaos, Chronos and Gaia — as pillars of the emergence of the Cosmos. The first gods, Zeus, Hades and Poseidon, were the ones who freed the Universe from the cruelty of Chronos.
greek cosmology
tales he was the first cosmologist in the Greek tradition. When observing the Universe and thinking that those cosmogonies did not make sense, the philosopher went through a process of observation and speculation that gave rise to his theory: the idea that the Water gives rise to everything.
Your speculation may seem absurd to us today, but it can also be considered the first pillar of Greek cosmology, because Thales did not look for a supernatural element to explain the Universe, but postulated that the origin was inside nature.
On the same mat, Anaximander, Anaximens, Pythagoras, heraclitus, Parmenides, Democritus, Anaxagoras and other philosophers have proposed cosmological theories based on observation of the Universe and on rational speculation.
See too:the being for Parmenides
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what happened in the Ancient Greece, from the emergence of Western philosophy, it was a clash of ideas of thinkers who sought in nature the origin of the entire Universe against the cosmogonic theories proposed by Greek mythology, which was equivalent to the religion of that people.
From the balance between cosmogonies and cosmology, the contemporary thinking, inclined to a pursuit of rationality, which, in turn, originated the sciences. Philosophy is, therefore, the mother of all sciences, and its rational supports gave rise to scientific activity extremely empirical.
Ernst Cassirer, contemporary philosopher, thus describes the clash between cosmogonies and cosmology in the Greek world, when present the dramatic vision proposed by mythology and the scientific vision that treats nature as an object to be pioneered:
Nature, in its empirical or scientific sense, can be defined as the existence of things as long as it is determined by general laws. Such a 'nature' does not exist for myths. The world of myth is a dramatic world—a world of conflicting actions, forces, powers. In every phenomenon of nature he sees the collision of these powers. Mythic awareness is always imbued with these emotional qualities. Whatever is seen, the sense is surrounded by a special atmosphere—an atmosphere of joy, grief, anguish, excitement, exultation, or depression. We cannot speak here of 'things' as dead or indifferent matter. All objects are benign or evil, friendly or hostile, familiar or strange, alluring and fascinating or repellent and menacing. We can easily reconstruct this elementary form of human experience, for not even in the life of civilized man has it lost its original power. When we are under the attention of a violent emotion, we still have this dramatic conception of all things. They no longer have their usual face; they change their faces abruptly, they are tinged with the specific color of our passions, of love or hate, of fear or hope.i
See too: John Locke's Critical Empiricism
modern cosmology
Nowadays, cosmology is part of the studies of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Unlike ancient cosmology, current cosmology relies on advanced mathematical calculations and physical formulas, as well as high-precision technological instruments such as computers and telescopes.
iCASSIRER, E. essay on man: introduction to a philosophy of human culture. São Paulo: Martins Fontes, 1994, p. 129.
by Francisco Porfirio
Graduated in Philosophy