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Quantum Cosmology and the Beginning of the Universe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2022

Gerrit Smith  and
Robert Weingard
Gerrit Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, Fordham University
Robert Weingard
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, Rutgers University
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Abstract

In this note a recently developed quantum oscillating finite space cosmological model is described. The principle novelty of the model is that there is a quantum blurring of the classical singularity between cycles, instead of a singularity free bounce. Recently, Quentin Smith (1988) has argued that present theoretical and observational evidence justifies the belief that the past history of the universe is finite. The relevance of this cosmological model to Smith's arguments is discussed.

Type
Discussion
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 57 , Issue 4 , December 1990 , pp. 663 - 667
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 by the Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

†

Versions of this paper were parts of talks given in Oxford and Cambridge. We wish to thank the audiences there, especially Harvey Brown and Jim Cushing, for helpful discussion.

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