While cosmogony generally refers to origin stories, the nature and subject of these stories varies with times and sources.Ancient Greece developed acosmogony focused on the origin of matter, space, and time with a transition fromChaos toCosmos. This was a form of "philosophical cosmogony" that is distinct from modernempirical science but which nevertheless dealt with many similar questions.[5]: 7 Another type of cosmogony focuses on theformation and evolution of the Solar System.[4] or sometimes theformation of galaxies.[3] The standardcosmologicalmodel of the early development of theuniverse is theBig Bang theory,[6] but it is based on a model known to fail at the very earliest times.[7]: 275 Thus modern cosmogony is not generally a consequence of modern cosmology theories.
ABig Bang model for the dynamics of the universe is widely agreed among cosmologists. Like most physical models, Big Bang models describe changes of state. Few physical models are designed to determineinitial conditions: initial states are given by experimental measurements or by hypothesis.In cosmology, the initial state would be the origin of the universe. It is considered a valid challenge to address but there are significant disagreements over even the form of acceptable answers.[8]
Since the Big Bang model describes an expanding and cooling universe, it must have been denser and hotter in the past. Conceptually the model can be extrapolated back to time zero. However, this process cannot be run all the way back to time zero: the standard model assumes a density low enough to avoid quantum effects. As the model is followed to smaller times the density exceeds the validity of general relativity.[8] This point in time is called thePlanck time.[citation needed]
One approach to the limitations of running Big Bang model back to time zero simply stops extrapolating when the limit of valid general relativity is reached. This model by itself fails in several ways. First, the observable universe is much morehomogeneous than an extrapolated Big Bang can account for. This problem is called thehorizon problem because events on opposite sides of the horizon could not have mixed in the early universe and thus should not be homogeneous now. Second, the expansion of the universe reduces curvature or equivalently increases flatness. Since the universe now is observed to be close to flat, a universe extrapolated back in time would have to be extremely flat. This almost but not quite zero curvature seems unnatural, an issue called theflatness problem. Third, this extrapolation gives poor results when compared to measurements of large scale structure and of the cosmic microwave background (CMB).[8]
Several different theories have been proposed as alternative to simple extrapolation of general relativity. The most successful approach is calledinflation. In this model the universe goes through a very short phase of intense expansion not predicted by general relativity. The expansion is so immense and fast that all pre-existing particles are diluted and replaced by particles emerging from the field that drove inflation in an process calledreheating. An initially homogeneous universe, inflated by an enormous factor explains why we can see homogeneous features across distances which ordinary causality asserts are independent.[8]When combined with the Big Bang and other concepts of cosmology, inflation becomes the consensus orstandard model of cosmology, a model which successfully predicts details of large scale structure and the CMB.[citation needed] While inflation has been successful in developing an initial state for Big Bang models, it does not by itself describe the origin of the universe. The rapid expansion erases evidence of physical processes occurring before inflation.[8]
Sean M. Carroll, who specializes intheoretical cosmology andfield theory, explains two competing explanations for the origins of thesingularity, which is the center of a space in which a characteristic is limitless[9] (one example is the singularity of ablack hole, wheregravity is the characteristic that becomeslimitless — infinite).
When the universe started to expand, the Big Bang occurred, which evidently began the universe.[citation needed] The other explanation, theHartle–Hawking state, held by proponents such asStephen Hawking, asserts that time did not exist when it emerged along with the universe. This assertion implies that the universe does not have a beginning, as time did not exist "prior" to the universe. Hence, it is unclear whether properties such as space or time emerged with the singularity and the known universe.[9][10][clarification needed]
Creation myths may beetiological, attempting to provide explanations for the origin of the universe. For instance,Eridu Genesis, the oldest known creation myth, contains an account of the creation of the world in which the universe was created out of a primeval sea (Abzu).[12][13] Creation myths vary, but they may share similardeities orsymbols. For instance, the ruler of the gods inGreek mythology,Zeus, is similar to the ruler of the gods inRoman mythology,Jupiter.[14] Another example is the ruler of the gods in Tagalog mythology,Bathala, who is similar to various rulers of certain pantheons withinPhilippine mythology such as the Bisaya'sKaptan.[15][16]
The representation of the Universe as rooted in Serer religion and Cosmogony
In the humanities, the distinction between cosmogony and cosmology is blurred. For example, in theology, thecosmological argument for the existence of God (pre-cosmic cosmogonic bearer ofpersonhood) is an appeal to ideas concerning the origin of the universe and is thus cosmogonical.[17] Some religious cosmogonies have an impersonal first cause (for exampleTaoism).[18]
However, in astronomy, cosmogony can be distinguished fromcosmology, which studies the universe and its existence, but does not necessarily inquire into its origins. There is therefore a scientific distinction between cosmological and cosmogonical ideas.Physical cosmology is the science that attempts to explain all observations relevant to the development and characteristics of the universe on its largest scale. Some questions regarding the behaviour of the universe have been described by some physicists and cosmologists as beingextra-scientific ormetaphysical. Attempted solutions to such questions may include the extrapolation of scientific theories to untested regimes (such as thePlanck epoch), or the inclusion of philosophical or religious ideas.[10][17][6]
^abcdeSmeenk, Christopher; Ellis, George (2017), Zalta, Edward N. (ed.),"Philosophy of Cosmology",The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2017 ed.), Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, retrieved16 September 2025
^Morris, Charles (1897). "The Primeval Ocean".Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.49:12–17.JSTOR4062253.
^Thury, Eva; Devinney, Margaret (2017).Introduction to Mythology Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths, 4th ed. Madison Avenue, New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 4, 187.
^Garverza, J. K. (2014). The Myths of the Philippines. University of the Philippines.
^Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
^abSmeenk, Christopher; Ellis, George (Winter 2017)."Philosophy of Cosmology".Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved30 April 2019.
