Inflation - an alternative to the singular Big Bang

Domains larger than the horizon in which Φ > (a few) ×M_pl are required for the onset of inflation. Two different, equally plausible, arguments lead us to opposite conclusions about the feasibility of the existence of such regions. It seems that inflation does not free us completely from the need for special initial conditions. However, Linde has pointed out that inflation can be eternal. He stresses the fact that inflation will never cease, but this also means that it did not necessarily have a beginning. We argue that this is the simplest solution to the initial value problem and that inflation might not only solve the problems of the Big Bang model, it might also provide us with an alternative that will replace it altogether.