Models and Formats: Representational and Computational Aspects

Marion Vorms (1)

1 IHPST - Institut d'Histoire et de Philosophie des Sciences et des Techniques

I analyse the double function of models (representing the phenomena, and being a tool for calculating and predicting them) from a cognitive point of view. Taking the same approach as Ronald Giere, I nevertheless argue that he is to much committed to an abstract conception of theories and that one should give more attention to the particular formats in which models are expressed and grasped. By taking the example of Classical Mechanics, I show that a model, as an abstract entity, doesn't represent anything if not presented in some particular format, be it linguistic, diagrammatic, or pictorial. This format is crucial to the relation between the two main functions of models.

Mots clés: philosophy of science

Domaines: Histoire, Philosophie et Sociologie des sciences

Marion Vorms. Models and Formats: Representational and Computational Aspects. Models and Simulations 2, Oct 2007, Tilburg, Netherlands. ⟨halshs-00791326⟩