Computational Models

Humphreys, Paul

doi:10.1086/341763

Cited by 53 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Let me finish by offering an incomplete list of authors whose definitions also make them suitable advocates of the PST viewpoint. These are, in chronological order, Churchman (1963), Conway (1963), Bennett (1974), and Neelamkavil (1987), Humphreys (2002), Morgan (2003Morgan ( , 2005, and Bueno (2014).…”

Section: The Historical Recordmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Formal Framework for Computer Simulations: Surveying the Historical Record and Finding Their Philosophical Roots

Durán

2019

Philos. Technol.

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A chronicled approach to the notion of computer simulations shows that there are two predominant interpretations in the specialized literature. According to the first interpretation, computer simulations are techniques for finding the set of solutions to a mathematical model. I call this first interpretation the problem-solving technique viewpoint (PST). In its second interpretation, computer simulations are considered to describe patterns of behavior of a target system. I call this second interpretation the description of patterns of behavior viewpoint of computer simulations (DPB). This article explores these two interpretations of computer simulations from three different angles. First, I collect a series of definitions of computer simulation from the historical record. I track back definitions to the early 1960s and show how each viewpoint shares similar interpretations of computer simulations-ultimately clustering into the two viewpoints aforementioned. This reconstruction also includes the most recent literature. Second, I unpack the philosophical assumptions behind each viewpoint, with a special emphasis on their differences. Third, I discuss the philosophical implications of each viewpoint in the context of the recent discussion on the logic of scientific explanation for computer simulations.Keywords History and philosophy of computer simulations . Two viewpoints on computer simulations . Problem-solving techniques viewpoint . Description of patterns of behavior viewpoint . Scientific explanation Philosophy & Technology

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Section: The Historical Recordmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Formal Framework for Computer Simulations: Surveying the Historical Record and Finding Their Philosophical Roots

Durán

2019

Philos. Technol.

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“…Cartwright 1999;Morrison 2008;Knuuttila 2009). This feature of mathematical modeling is further enhanced by its use of cross-disciplinary computational templates that are in the modeling process adjusted to fit the field of application (for computational templates, see Humphreys 2002Humphreys , 2004Knuuttila and Loettgers in press). Such templates are often transferred from other disciplines, like in the case of the circadian clock research, where many models, formal methods and related concepts originate from physics and engineering (e.g.…”

Section: Causal Isolation Robustness Analysis 785mentioning

confidence: 99%

Causal isolation robustness analysis: the combinatorial strategy of circadian clock research

Knuuttila

Loettgers

2011

Biol Philos

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This paper distinguishes between causal isolation robustness analysis and independent determination robustness analysis and suggests that the triangulation of the results of different epistemic means or activities serves different functions in them. Circadian clock research is presented as a case of causal isolation robustness analysis: in this field researchers made use of the notion of robustness to isolate the assumed mechanism behind the circadian rhythm. However, in contrast to the earlier philosophical case studies on causal isolation robustness analysis (Weisberg and Reisman in Philos Sci 75: 106-131, 2008; Kuorikoski et al. in Br J Philos Sci 61:541-567, 2010), robustness analysis in the circadian clock research did not remain in the level of mathematical modeling, but it combined it with experimentation on model organisms and a new type of model, a synthetic model.

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“…Further Reading: Paul Humphreys (1990Humphreys ( , 2002 discusses computer simulations and computer models.…”

Section: Thagard's Objectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Philosophy of Computer Science

Rapaport

2005

Teaching Philosophy

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Computational Models

Cited by 53 publications

References 4 publications

A Formal Framework for Computer Simulations: Surveying the Historical Record and Finding Their Philosophical Roots

A Formal Framework for Computer Simulations: Surveying the Historical Record and Finding Their Philosophical Roots

Causal isolation robustness analysis: the combinatorial strategy of circadian clock research

Philosophy of Computer Science

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