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Qualitative Scientific Modeling and Loop Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

James Justus
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Abstract

Loop analysis is a method of qualitative modeling anticipated by Sewall Wright (1921) and systematically developed by Richard Levins. In Levins’ (1966) distinctions between modeling strategies, loop analysis sacrifices precision for generality and realism. Besides criticizing the clarity of these distinctions, Orzack and Sober (1993) argued qualitative modeling is conceptually and methodologically problematic. Loop analysis of the stability of ecological communities shows this criticism is unjustified. It presupposes an overly narrow view of qualitative modeling and underestimates the broad role models play in scientific research, especially in helping scientists represent and understand complex systems.

Type
Science Models
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 72 , Issue 5: Proceedings of the 2004 Biennial Meeting of The Philosophy of Science Association. Part I: Contributed Papers , December 2005 , pp. 1272 - 1286
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

‡

This research was supported by a fellowship from the University of Texas, Austin. Thanks to Carl Salk, Sahotra Sarkar, Elliott Sober, and Michael Weisberg for helpful comments.

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