What is the difference between cosmology and metaphysics?

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sidetrack

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It’s just occurred to me how I can’t really define them. Both can be implicative of underlying structures of reality but the former nowadays is used more often to the physical science of the nature of the universe and what it was and will become more than how it can also mean a quasi-mystical take on the destiny of humankind as it relates to underlying structures of reality…_ but metaphysics can also mean that as well.

I have a hunch some ppl don’t like metaphysics to be called cosmology and vice-versa.

:shrug:Just kind of spit-balling here
 
In my reality of realities, one is more useless than the other! 😃
 
That’s easy. Cosmology belongs to science and metaphysics to philosophy. That’s all. Only it isn’t. The fields often overlap. 👍
 
Metaphysics is a specific branch of philosophy, in the academic sense. It deals with subjects like what exists (ontology), what are the parts of what does exist (mereology), causality, modality, time, free will, identity, and probably other things that escapes me right now. Cosmology is the scientific study of the origins of the universe.

Cosmology might include metaphysical questions. Lots of subjects do. For instance, physicists may argue over the mereology of matter - does a rock exist in itself? Or does the elements that make it up exist, and the rock is just the form of that clump of elements? Or, are the subatomic particles REALLY what exist, and the elements on up is just form?
 
Rhubarb said:
Metaphysics is a specific branch of philosophy, in the academic sense. It deals with subjects like what exists (ontology), what are the parts of what does exist (mereology), causality, modality, time, free will, identity, and probably other things that escapes me right now. Cosmology is the scientific study of the origins of the universe.

Cosmology might include metaphysical questions. Lots of subjects do. For instance, physicists may argue over the mereology of matter - does a rock exist in itself? Or does the elements that make it up exist, and the rock is just the form of that clump of elements? Or, are the subatomic particles REALLY what exist, and the elements on up is just form?
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Thank you Rhubarb and everyone else your responses have been very helpful.
 
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