The Theory, Practice, and Sociology of Physical Cosmology

Sociologists have interesting things to say about the practice of natural science. I will discuss the sociological phenomenon of multiples in scientific discoveries, with examples drawn from how the ?CDM cosmology grew. This cosmology passes a considerable network of tests but it certainly is incomplete, and it is tempting to think that there may be multiples to come that hint at a still better theory. I will offer possible examples.