Modeling reality

: My aim in this paper is to articulate an account of scientific modeling that reconciles pluralism about modeling with a modest form of scientific realism. The central claim of this approach is that the models of a given physical phenomenon can present different aspects of the phenomenon. This allows us, in certain special circumstances, to be confident that we are capturing genuine features of the world, even when our modeling occurs independently of a wholly theoretical motivation. This framework is illustrated using a recent debate from meteorology. I. Traditional scientific realism is the view that science aims at truth and that we have some reason to believe that our most successful scientific theories are true or approximately true. Realists typically appeal to the predictive success of these theories when challenged to say exactly why we should place such confidence in these theories. These realist arguments can take the crude form of asking why you would get on an airplane if ...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: SYNTHESE
• Authors: Christopher Pincock
• Keywords: Explanatory Arguments, Scientific Realism, Successful Scientific Theories, SYNTHESE 2011