No abstract

Currently, the widely used notion of activity is increasingly present in computer science. However, because this notion is used in specic contexts, it becomes vague. Here, the notion of activity is scrutinized in various contexts and, accordingly, put in perspective. It is discussed through four scientic disciplines: computer science, biology, economics, and epistemology. The denition of activity usually used in simulation is extended to new qualitative and quantitative denitions. In computer science, biology, and economics disciplines, the new simulation activity denition is rst applied critically. Then, activity is discussed generally. In epistemology, activity is discussed, in a prospective way, as a possible framework in models of human beliefs and knowledge.