The Aim and Structure of Cosmological Theory

Graduate Seminar. This course, based around a book manuscript with Chris Smeenk, will survey a range of philosophical issues connected to the four main pillars of the "Standard Model" of cosmology. The thread running through the term will be the following questions: How do background views about what science is, or should be, influence cosmologists' choices about what theoretical projects to pursue most vigorously, especially under conditions of limited empirical testing? And do we have reason to think that those background philosophical commitments are useful epistemic guides?