SPSP 2013 Symposium S1: De-idealization in the Sciences
Tweeted from the 4th biennial conference of the Society for Philosophy of Science in Practice in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on June 27, 2013, during Concurrent Sessions I
-
The concurrent sessions required a choice (from five very attractive options).
-
Just about to start: Symposium on “De-idealization in the Sciences” #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Lots of discussions in literature of idealization, not enough of de-idealization (making models more realistic) #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
What are the strategies, processes of de-idealization? The session will look at practices to see … #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
First up: Mieke Boon, “Idealization & de-idealization as an epistemic strategy in experimental practices” #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Looking at (De-)idealization as epistemic strategy in experimental practices #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
High degree of either idealization or detail in models made possible by epistemic building blocks #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Diff perspectives on idealization: 1) Models mirror natures (idealization as distortion in the representation) #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
2) Sci models representations involving pragmatic virtues (idealization explains pragmatic virtues) #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Types of idealization to make more computationally tractable, to single out primary cause, etc. #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
De-idealization: tension between (e.g.) simplicity vs. completeness, intelligibility vs. accuracy #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
3) Scientific models as epistemic tools #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Model (epistemic tool) for phenomena (the observations and measurements); assume those connect to thing in world #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Model as epistemic tool not tied to unobservable phenomenon but tangible, observable world, instruments, expts #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Epistemic activities (interpreting, structuring, (de-)idealizing, representing) enable & guide modelling #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Idealization explains construction of epistemic tools; #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
… de-idealization concerns use of these tools to understand concrete systems #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Given 3 views of models, idealization is semantic notion, pragmatic notion, or epistemic strategy #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
How do we know how to idealize? Is idealization guided by scientific knowledge of (real world) phenomenon? #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
This would suggest scientific knowledge of the phenomenon precedes modelling (which often it doesn’t) #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Usually modeled phenomenon has become known and epistemically accessible through the models #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Construction of models enabled by available methods of math, conceptualization, data, instruments, expts #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
… and by available theoretical knowledge #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
(I’m not going to try to tweet the graphical schema; sorry folks!) #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Modeling involves lots of interplay between background knowledge and interventions with physical world #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Lots of different levels at which (de-)idealization can come in within these interactions #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Abstract away lots of the world to make experimental model. Collect data; idealize to come up w/ formula #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Develop expt’l set-up further, more data, more mathematization of data, causal-mechanistic interpretation of data #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Why idealize? An epistemic strategy for constructing epistemic building blocks, … #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
… which provide epistemic access to real world phenomena, which guides their use to build models #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Looking for accuracy with respect to the details to which we have empirical access #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Epistemic tools must have some pragmatic value, right? #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Pragmatic view could accompany a more realist view (cf. Weisberg) or a more instrumentalist/constructivist view #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Things only function as epistemic tools when they are intelligible TO US #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Seems like sometimes our understanding precedes identifying mechanisms. Different kinds of models can help us. #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Next up: Sara Green, “De-idealizing general principles in systems biology” #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
When is de-idealization important for explanatory purposes? (Might not always be important) #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Systems biology as quest to identify design principles.Could we imagine catalog of such principles? #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Or is this attempt a misleading simplification of inherent complexity of biological systems? #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Looking for “network motifs” (simple building blocks of complex networks) #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Part of idealization might include logic input functions. Structure determines function. #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Big assumption that network motifs are functionally isolated from other network interactions #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Lots of idealizations. Need to test biological motif-functions(in actual living bacteria). Good results! #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Simulations of more complex networks generated from yeast networks were less successful, though. #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Aim is not always complete & realistic model, but in identifying more general biological design principles #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
If modeling for tractable tools for more accurate representations, de-idealization to achieve completeness #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
If looking for model that accounts for difference-making (causal) factors, less clear why to de-idealize #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Of course, actual causal structure of systems being modeled could be complicated #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Generality as central virtue for models of network motifs #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
How to make sense of explanatory virtues of generalize formalizations in biology? #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Modeling of non-actual systems may shed light on existing systems #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Abstract/idealized models can provide access to otherwise inaccessible spaces of representation #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Cartwright (1983): “Abstract laws are the principles that best organize our theorizing” #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Design principles (e.g., network motifs) define TYPIFIED relations that facilitate cross-system generalizations #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Given interdisciplinary pressures in systems biology, for whom must a model be explanatory? (Disagreements here) #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Scientists in interdisciplinary projects know when they disagree, but not always the sources of the disagreement #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Last talk in session: Julie Jebeile & Ashley Graham Kennedy, “Explanatory models and de-idealization” #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
All scientific models contain convenient omissions, deliberate deformations of the target (i.e., idealizations) #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Does de-idealizing a model always make it more explanatory? Contra McMullin, No! #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Better expl’n from de-idealizing body-in-free fall model by adding approx term for air resistance back in. #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Accretion disk simulations in astronomy (pretty simulation on the screen right now) #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Expl’n by comparison. 2-D simulations initially used b/c couldn’t compute 3-D simulations #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Aspects of target explained by comparing 2-D and 3-D simulations (turbulence due to magnetorotational stability) #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Entire modeling process necessary to explain certain features (most de-idealized version not sufficient) #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Assumptions about de-idealization: can remove idealizations w/out loss of model expl’n & expl’n always improved #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
But there are cases where can’t remove idealization w/out losing the expl’n (“ineliminable” idealizations) #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
-
Heuristically useful falls short of explanatorily necessary, right? #SPSP2013 #SPSP2013Toronto
storify.com
Related stories
