How unique are the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker models of the universe

By accepting the validity of certain conjectures in classical general relativity and kinetic theory, it is argued that, in a sense, the spatially homogeneous and isotropic Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmological models are unique. This is accomplished in two steps. First, there is reason to believe that kinetic theory requires perfect fluids to be shear-free. Second, it seems that general relativity constrains expanding shear-free fluids to be irrotational. The uniqueness of the FRW models then follows, since it has already been established that they are the only space-times which represent an expanding shear-free irrotational perfect fluid that are physically reasonable on a global scale.This essay received an honorable mention (1986) from the Gravity Research Foundation—Ed.