哲学杂志철학 학술지哲学のジャーナルEast Asian
Journal of
Philosophy

Home > Journal > Journal Issue > Journal article

Publication details

Year: 2013

Pages: 3611-3623

Series: Synthese

Full citation:

Alistair Isaac, "Modeling without representation", Synthese 190 (16), 2013, pp. 3611-3623.

Modeling without representation

Alistair Isaac

pp. 3611-3623

in: Synthese 190 (16), 2013.

Abstract

How can mathematical models which represent the causal structure of the world incompletely or incorrectly have any scientific value? I argue that this apparent puzzle is an artifact of a realist emphasis on representation in the philosophy of modeling. I offer an alternative, pragmatic methodology of modeling, inspired by classic papers by modelers themselves. The crux of the view is that models developed for purposes other than explanation may be justified without reference to their representational properties.

Publication details

Year: 2013

Pages: 3611-3623

Series: Synthese

Full citation:

Alistair Isaac, "Modeling without representation", Synthese 190 (16), 2013, pp. 3611-3623.