Cosmogony

== Compared with cosmology ==
In the humanities, the distinction between cosmogony and cosmology is blurred. For example, in theology, the [[cosmological argument]] for the existence of God (pre-cosmic cosmogonic bearer of [[personhood]]) is an appeal to ideas concerning the origin of the universe and is thus cosmogonical.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Smeenk |first1=Christopher |last2=Ellis |first2=George |date=Winter 2017 |title=Philosophy of Cosmology |url=https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2017/entries/cosmology/ |access-date=30 April 2019 |website=Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy}}</ref> Some religious cosmogonies have an impersonal first cause (for example [[Taoism]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Religions - Taoism: Gods and spirits |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/taoism/beliefs/gods.shtml |website=www.bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

However, in astronomy, cosmogony can be distinguished from [[cosmology]], 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 being [[Non-science|extra-scientific]] or [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]]. Attempted solutions to such questions may include the extrapolation of scientific theories to untested regimes (such as the [[Planck epoch]]), or the inclusion of philosophical or religious ideas.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name="Wollack" />
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