Frigg, Roman 
ORCID: 0000-0003-0812-0907
(2010)
Models and fiction.
Synthese, 172 (2).
pp. 251-268.
ISSN 0039-7857
Abstract
Most scientific models are not physical objects, and this raises important questions. What sort of entity are models, what is truth in a model, and how do we learn about models? In this paper I argue that models share important aspects in common with literary fiction, and that therefore theories of fiction can be brought to bear on these questions. In particular, I argue that the pretence theory as developed by Walton (1990, Mimesis as make-believe: on the foundations of the representational arts. Harvard University Press, Cambridge/MA) has the resources to answer these questions. I introduce this account, outline the answers that it offers, and develop a general picture of scientific modelling based on it.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://www.springer.com/philosophy/epistemology+an... |
| Additional Information: | © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. |
| Divisions: | Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method CPNSS |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) Q Science > Q Science (General) |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Nov 2010 16:37 |
| Last Modified: | 11 Dec 2024 23:42 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/29995 |
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