The Science and Art of Simulation I (eBook)

Exploring - Understanding - Knowing

Michael M. Resch, Andreas Kaminski, Petra Gehring (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: PDF

2017 | 1st ed. 2017
VI, 192 Seiten
Springer International Publishing (Verlag)
978-3-319-55762-5 (ISBN)

Infos

The new book series 'The Science and Art of Simulation' (SAS) addresses computer simulations as a scientific activity and engineering artistry (in the sense of a technē). The first volume is devoted to three topics:

1. The Art of Exploring Computer Simulations
Philosophy began devoting attention to computer simulations at a relatively early stage. Since then, the unquestioned point of view has been that computer simulation is a new scientific method; the philosophy of simulation is therefore part of the philosophy of science. The first section of this volume discusses this implicit, unchallenged assumption by addressing, from different perspectives, the question of how to explore (and how not to explore) research on computer simulations. Scientists discuss what is still lacking or considered problematic, while philosophers draft new directions for research, and both examine the art of exploring computer simulations.

2. The Art of Understanding Computer Simulations
The results of computer simulations are integrated into both political and social decisions. It is implicitly assumed that the more detailed, and consequently more realistic, a computer simulation is, the more useful it will be in decision-making. However, this idea is by no means justified. Different types of computer simulations have to be differentiated, which in turn requires the specific skill of understanding computer simulation results. The articles in this section examine the capabilities and limits of simulation results in political and social contexts, exploring the art of understanding computer simulation results. 

3. The Art of Knowing through Computer Simulations?
The advent of computer simulation in today's scientific practices challenges the order of science. What kind of knowledge is gained through computer simulations is the key question in this section. Computer simulations are often compared to experiments or to arguments, and the transformation of our traditional scientific notions might be more challenging than expected - these Ideas are put forward in the third section to conceptualize the art of knowing through computer simulations. 

Inhalt

Contents 5
Introduction 7
1 How to Explore Computer Simulations? 10
2 How to Understand the Results of Computer Simulations? 10
3 How to Gain Knowledge Through Computer Simulations? 10
References 10
Part I: The Art of Exploring Computer Simulations 12
Doing Research on Simulation Sciences? Questioning Methodologies and Disciplinarities 13
1 Unity Does Not Follow from Novelty: On Simulation as an Object of Research 14
2 Who Researches How Simulation Research Does Research? Interrelating and Extending the Observer Perspective 17
2.1 18
2.2 19
2.3 20
2.4 21
3 Interdisciplinary Evaluative Research: Taking Simulation Sciences Seriously 21
3.1 22
3.2 22
3.3 23
3.4 23
3.5 23
4 In Lieu of a Conclusion 24
References 24
On the Missing Coherent Theory of Simulation 26
1 Introduction 26
2 The Technical-Scientific Conception of Simulation 27
3 Core Sciences of Simulation 29
3.1 Mathematics 29
3.2 Computer Science 30
4 Applied Sciences of Simulation 31
5 Science Theory of Simulation 32
6 Socio-Scientific Theory of Simulation 33
6.1 Meaning of Simulation for Political Action Processes 33
6.2 Meaning of the Perception of Simulation in Society 33
7 Questions 34
References 35
The Art of Staging Simulations: Mise-en-scène, Social Impact, and Simulation Literacy 36
1 Introduction 36
2 Poietic Simulation 37
2.1 Mimesis One, Two, Three 38
2.2 Composing Simulations 40
2.2.1 Simulation and Prefiguration 41
2.2.2 Simulation Configuration 41
2.2.3 Refiguring Simulations 42
3 Mise-en-scène and Presentation Impact 43
4 Staging of Simulations and Simulation Literacy 46
4.1 Refiguration Signals 47
4.2 Irony or Lie? Simulation or Deceit? 48
5 Conclusion 51
References 52
Myths of Simulation 54
1 Introduction 54
2 What Is Simulation? 56
3 Myths of Simulation 57
3.1 Myth 1: Computer Simulation Is a Virtual Experiment 57
3.2 Myth 2: Computer Simulation Is Exact 59
3.3 Myth 3: Computers Can Simulate Anything 61
4 Conclusions 63
References 64
Part II: The Art of Understanding Computer Simulations 67
Understanding Social Science Simulations: Distinguishing Two Categories of Simulations 68
1 Introduction 68
2 Two Types of Social Science Simulations 70
2.1 Simulations STE 71
2.2 Simulations SE 71
2.3 Two Model Cases 72
3 Understanding the Results of Simulations 74
3.1 What-If-Things-Had-Been-Different Questions as a Basis of Inferential Performance Constitutive of Understanding 75
3.2 Understanding the Results of Simulations STE and Simulations SE 76
3.3 Understanding the Results of the Model Cases 77
4 The Challenge of Opacity 78
4.1 Opacity Versus Epistemic Transparency 79
4.2 Loss of Understanding 80
4.3 Relevance for Social Science Simulations 81
5 Conclusions 82
References 83
Seven Problems with Massive Simulation Models for Policy Decision-Making 86
1 Introduction 86
2 MSM vs. ASM 87
3 The Case of Vaccination Policy Modeling 89
4 Seven Problems with MSMs for Policy Purposes 92
4.1 What Is the Target? 92
4.2 How to Measure Parameters 94
4.3 Number of Parameters 95
4.4 Number of Mechanisms 97
4.5 Counterfactual Questions 98
4.6 Structural Uncertainty 99
4.7 Match with Decision Tools 100
5 Conclusions 101
References 101
Between Knowledge and Action: Conceptualizing Scientific Simulation and Policy-Making 103
1 Introduction 103
2 Scientific Simulations and Policy-Making Compatibilities 104
3 A Systemic Perspective: Simulations Modes of Knowledge and Communication 107
4 An Impact Perspective: Simulation Use by Policy 110
5 An Evaluation Perspective: Quality Assessment of Simulations 113
6 Conclusions 116
References 116
Part III: The Art of Knowing Through Computer Simulations 119
Outlines of a Pragmatic Theory of Truth and Error in Computer Simulation 120
1 Models of and Models for 122
2 The Application of Simulation 123
3 Which Theory of Truth Is Appropriate for Computer Simulation? 124
4 Why a Pragmatic Theory of Truth? 126
5 Features of a Pragmatic Theory of Truth 128
6 Balance of a Pragmatic Theory of Truth in Simulation Research 130
7 An Amendment: The Pragmatic Theory of Error 132
References 134
The Demon´s Fallacy: Simulation Modeling and a New Style of Reasoning 136
1 Introduction 136
2 The Classic Viewpoint: Rational Mechanics 137
3 Combination Rather than Analysis 139
4 Schema of Simulation Modeling 140
5 The Argument by Way of Two Examples 142
5.1 Equations of State in Thermodynamics 142
5.2 Quantum Chemistry 145
6 Conclusion 149
References 149
Advancing Knowledge Through Computer Simulations? A Socratic Exercise 151
1 Introduction 151
2 Knowledge 153
3 Propositional Content 156
4 Justification 162
5 Conclusions 169
References 170
Varieties of Simulations: From the Analogue to the Digital 173
1 Introduction 173
2 The Analogue-Digital Distinction 175
3 Varieties of Simulations 178
3.1 Analogue Simulations as Part of the Laboratory Instrumentaria 180
3.2 The Microcosm of Computer Simulations 183
3.3 Computer Simulations Meet the Laboratory Instrumentaria 185
4 The Importance of the Analogue-Digital Distinction in the Literature on Computer Simulations 187
References 189

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 7.4.2017
• Zusatzinfo: VI, 192 p. 7 illus.
• Verlagsort: Cham
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Mathematik / Informatik ► Informatik
• Schlagworte: computer simulation • Models • Philosophy • Social Science • Verification and Validation
• ISBN-10: 3-319-55762-9 / 3319557629
• ISBN-13: 978-3-319-55762-5 / 9783319557625