Cosmos
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | [[Image:Flammarion engraving.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Flammarion engraving]]'', a wood engraving by an unknown artist, so named because its first documented appearance is in Camille Flammarion's 1888 book L'atmosphère: météorologie populaire ("The Atmosphere: Popular Meteorology").]] | ||
| + | [[Image:Magnum Chaos by Lorenzo Lotto and Giovan Francesco Capoferri.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''[[Magnum Chaos]]'' (c. 1524 ) by [[Lorenzo Lotto]] | ||
| + | <hr> | ||
| + | <small> | ||
| + | "Before the [[ocean]] and the [[earth]] appeared— before the skies had overspread them all— the face of [[Nature]] in a vast expanse was naught but [[Chaos]] uniformly waste. It was a rude and undeveloped [[mass]], that nothing made except a ponderous weight; and all discordant elements confused, were there congested in a [[shapeless]] heap." -- [[Metamorphoses (Brookes More translation)]] | ||
| + | </small>]] | ||
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| - | # The [[universe]] | + | '''Cosmos''' is the [[Universe]] regarded as a beautifully-arranged system. |
| - | # An [[order]]ed, [[harmonious]] [[whole]] | + | |
| + | [[Pythagoras]] is said to have been the first philosopher to apply the term "cosmos" (Greek κόσμος) to the [[Universe]], perhaps referring to the starry [[firmament]]. | ||
| + | The [[Ancient Greeks|Ancient Greek]] [[Natural philosophy|natural philosopher]] [[Archimedes]], in his essay "[[The Sand Reckoner]]," estimated the diameter of the cosmos. | ||
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| + | ==Etymology== | ||
| + | The word derives from the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] term κόσμος (''kosmos''), literally meaning "well-ordered" or "ornament" and metaphorically "world," and is [[antithesis|antithetical]] to the concept of [[Chaos (cosmogony)|chaos]] in its ugly state. Today, the word is generally used as a [[synonym]] of the Latin loanword "[[Universe]]" (considered in its beautifully-ordered aspect). | ||
| + | The word [[cosmetics]] originates from the same root. In many [[Slavic languages]] the word ''kosmos'' (''космос'') also means "[[outer space]]." | ||
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| + | == Cosmology == | ||
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| + | [[Cosmology]] is the study of the cosmos in several of the above meanings, depending on context. All cosmologies have in common an attempt to understand the implicit order and beauty within the whole of being. In this way, most religions and philosophical systems have a cosmology. | ||
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| + | In [[physical cosmology]], the term ''cosmos'' is often used in a technical way, referring to a particular [[spacetime]] continuum within the (postulated) [[multiverse]]. Our particular cosmos, the [[observable universe]], is generally capitalized as ''the Cosmos''. | ||
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| + | == Theology == | ||
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| + | In [[theology]], the term can be used to denote the [[Creation myth|created]] Universe, not including the [[Creationism|creator]]. In [[Christian theology]], the word is also used synonymously with ''[[aeon|aion]]'' to refer to "worldly life" or "this world" as opposed to the [[afterlife]] or [[World to Come]]. | ||
| + | The cosmos as originated by Pythagoras is parallel to the [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] term ''[[aša]]'', the concept of a divine arrangement, or divinely fashioned creation. | ||
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| + | == See also == | ||
| + | * [[Anthropic principle]] | ||
| + | * [[Astronomy]] | ||
| + | * [[Cosmic]] | ||
| + | * [[Cosmology]] | ||
| + | *[[Cosmological argument]] | ||
| + | * [[Cosmography]] | ||
| + | * [[Fate of the universe]] | ||
| + | * [[Macrocosm and microcosm]] | ||
| + | * [[Megaverse]] | ||
| + | * [[Multiverse]] | ||
| + | * [[Observable universe]] | ||
| + | * [[Order]] | ||
| + | * [[Omega point (de Chardin)]] | ||
| + | * [[Omniverse]] | ||
| + | *[[Soter Kosmoi]] | ||
| + | * [[Timeline of the Big Bang]] | ||
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Current revision
"Before the ocean and the earth appeared— before the skies had overspread them all— the face of Nature in a vast expanse was naught but Chaos uniformly waste. It was a rude and undeveloped mass, that nothing made except a ponderous weight; and all discordant elements confused, were there congested in a shapeless heap." -- Metamorphoses (Brookes More translation)
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Featured: |
Cosmos is the Universe regarded as a beautifully-arranged system.
Pythagoras is said to have been the first philosopher to apply the term "cosmos" (Greek κόσμος) to the Universe, perhaps referring to the starry firmament. The Ancient Greek natural philosopher Archimedes, in his essay "The Sand Reckoner," estimated the diameter of the cosmos.
Contents |
Etymology
The word derives from the Greek term κόσμος (kosmos), literally meaning "well-ordered" or "ornament" and metaphorically "world," and is antithetical to the concept of chaos in its ugly state. Today, the word is generally used as a synonym of the Latin loanword "Universe" (considered in its beautifully-ordered aspect). The word cosmetics originates from the same root. In many Slavic languages the word kosmos (космос) also means "outer space."
Cosmology
Cosmology is the study of the cosmos in several of the above meanings, depending on context. All cosmologies have in common an attempt to understand the implicit order and beauty within the whole of being. In this way, most religions and philosophical systems have a cosmology.
In physical cosmology, the term cosmos is often used in a technical way, referring to a particular spacetime continuum within the (postulated) multiverse. Our particular cosmos, the observable universe, is generally capitalized as the Cosmos.
Theology
In theology, the term can be used to denote the created Universe, not including the creator. In Christian theology, the word is also used synonymously with aion to refer to "worldly life" or "this world" as opposed to the afterlife or World to Come. The cosmos as originated by Pythagoras is parallel to the Zoroastrian term aša, the concept of a divine arrangement, or divinely fashioned creation.
See also
- Anthropic principle
- Astronomy
- Cosmic
- Cosmology
- Cosmological argument
- Cosmography
- Fate of the universe
- Macrocosm and microcosm
- Megaverse
- Multiverse
- Observable universe
- Order
- Omega point (de Chardin)
- Omniverse
- Soter Kosmoi
- Timeline of the Big Bang
