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Appraising Models Nonrepresentationally

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Till Grüne-Yanoff
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Abstract

Many scientific models lack an established representation relation to actual targets and instead refer to merely possible processes, background conditions, and results. This article shows how such models can be appraised. On the basis of the discussion of how-possibly explanations, five types of learning opportunities are distinguished. For each of these types, an example—from economics, biology, psychology, and sociology—is discussed. Contexts and purposes are identified in which the use of a model offers a genuine opportunity to learn. These learning opportunities offer novel justifications for modeling practices that fall between the cracks of standard representationalist appraisals of models.

Type
General Philosophy of Science
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 80 , Issue 5 , December 2013 , pp. 850 - 861
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

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