I don’t know what a ‘model’ is. Someone play taboo with me, and tell me about how theories work. Literally speaking, a model, like, airplane is isomorphic to some degree or another to the real airplane of which it is a model. Is that how a scientific theory works? Is there some isomorphism between the parts of the theory and things in the world?
Literally speaking, a model, like, airplane is isomorphic to some degree or another to the real airplane of which it is a model. Is that how a scientific theory works? Is there some isomorphism between the parts of the theory and things in the world?
Yes, just like that.
In science, a model is a set of variables that stand for physical quantities, together with a set of relationships between those variables, which are asserted to correspond with the relationships among the physical quantities. The relationships are typically expressed mathematically.
For example, s = (at^2)/2, where s is the distance travelled in time t by an object under constant acceleration a starting from rest. This is a model of what happens when you drop something.
More generally, there is a Wikipedia page, which is sound but I think over-complicates the idea (and the section on “Business process modelling” doesn’t belong there at all), and even more so the disambiguation page for “Model”, but the same fundamental idea runs through the whole.
A model is a map of the territory. For example, we could create an emulation of a light bulb using the most the most basic understanding of a light bulb. I.e., you flip a switch, magic goes through a wire, and on goes the light bulb. Or if you wished (and could) make the model more accurate, you would go down to the level of electrons, or even further. However, you wouldn’t want a model at the most fundamental level if you’re trying to understand how artificial light affects human behavior, for example. Models are a tool for explaining, understanding, and predicting phenomena conveniently.
Or for representing phenomena in an altered “format”. For example, I have read a description of the bimetallic spring in a thermostat as a model of the room’s temperature presented in a way that the furnace can make use of it.
I don’t know what a ‘model’ is. Someone play taboo with me, and tell me about how theories work. Literally speaking, a model, like, airplane is isomorphic to some degree or another to the real airplane of which it is a model. Is that how a scientific theory works? Is there some isomorphism between the parts of the theory and things in the world?
Yes, just like that.
In science, a model is a set of variables that stand for physical quantities, together with a set of relationships between those variables, which are asserted to correspond with the relationships among the physical quantities. The relationships are typically expressed mathematically.
For example, s = (at^2)/2, where s is the distance travelled in time t by an object under constant acceleration a starting from rest. This is a model of what happens when you drop something.
More generally, there is a Wikipedia page, which is sound but I think over-complicates the idea (and the section on “Business process modelling” doesn’t belong there at all), and even more so the disambiguation page for “Model”, but the same fundamental idea runs through the whole.
A model is a map of the territory. For example, we could create an emulation of a light bulb using the most the most basic understanding of a light bulb. I.e., you flip a switch, magic goes through a wire, and on goes the light bulb. Or if you wished (and could) make the model more accurate, you would go down to the level of electrons, or even further. However, you wouldn’t want a model at the most fundamental level if you’re trying to understand how artificial light affects human behavior, for example. Models are a tool for explaining, understanding, and predicting phenomena conveniently.
Or for representing phenomena in an altered “format”. For example, I have read a description of the bimetallic spring in a thermostat as a model of the room’s temperature presented in a way that the furnace can make use of it.