PASS Scripta Varia 21 - Pontifical Academy of Sciences

HOW TO BECOME SCIENCE – THE CASE OF COSMOLOGY
in cosmology and in fundamental physics will somehow be relaxed. The
present paradigm in cosmology is that of physics, and physical methodology
is based on empirical testability. If we stick to this paradigm, the multiverse
methodology has negligible chances. If we admit that, in some cases, an explanatory
power (in a non-empirical sense or in a relaxed empirical sense)
could supplement accepted strategies in the physical sciences then some
versions of the multiverse strategy could possibly be viewed more favourably
in the domain of science. This is a philosophical option, and there are signs
that such an option is indeed slowly gaining acceptance. This is understandable
in the sense that when theoretical curiosity reaches the limits of experimental
possibilities, there is no other way round than to look for help
in bold speculations. Although some people claim that when this happens,
science starts to decline.
The Scientific Legacy of the 20 th Century
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