LEVINS AND THE LURE OF ARTIFICIAL WORLDS.

What is it about simulation models that has led some practitioners to treat them as potential sources of empirical data on the real-world systems being simulated; that is, to treat simulations as 'artificial worlds' within which to perform computational 'experiments'? Here we use the work of Richard...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Monist Vol. 97; no. 3; pp. 301 - 321
Autor principal: Bullock, Seth
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Oxford University Press / USA Jul2014
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:What is it about simulation models that has led some practitioners to treat them as potential sources of empirical data on the real-world systems being simulated; that is, to treat simulations as 'artificial worlds' within which to perform computational 'experiments'? Here we use the work of Richard Levins as a starting point in identifying the appeal of this model building strategy, and proceed to account for why this appeal is strongest for computational modellers. This analysis suggests a perspective on simulation modelling that makes room for 'artificial worlds' as legitimate science without having to accept that they should be treated as sources of empirical data.