Navigating permanent underdetermination in dark energy and inflationary cosmology

TL;DR

This paper examines the persistent underdetermination issues in dark energy and inflationary cosmology, proposing responses from an effective field theory perspective, but acknowledges the ongoing epistemic challenges involved.

Contribution

It introduces a taxonomy of responses to underdetermination and applies an effective field theory framework to analyze dark energy and inflationary models.

Findings

Certain responses can mitigate some underdetermination concerns

Effective field theory provides a useful perspective

Epistemic threats remain significant

Abstract

We identify troubling cases of so-called `permanent underdetermination' in both dark energy and inflationary cosmology. We bring to bear (a) a taxonomy of possible responses to underdetermination, and (b) an understanding of both dark energy and inflationary cosmology from an effective field theory point of view. We argue that, under certain conditions, there are viable responses which can arguably alleviate at least some of the concerns about underdetermination in the dark energy and inflationary sectors. However, the epistemic threat of permanent underdetermination remains a significant challenge.