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Knowledge and reality: some conceptual issues in system dynamics modeling
Author(s) -
Vázquez Margarita,
Liz Manuel,
Aracil Javier
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
system dynamics review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.491
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1099-1727
pISSN - 0883-7066
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1727(199621)12:1<21::aid-sdr95>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - relativism , epistemology , realism , critical realism (philosophy of perception) , positivism , dynamics (music) , grasp , system dynamics , principal (computer security) , computer science , sociology , management science , philosophy , artificial intelligence , engineering , pedagogy , programming language , operating system
This paper provides a number of epistemological and methodological reflections on modeling and simulation through system dynamics and the special type of knowledge provided by system dynamics models. Our principal concern will be to analyze the sense in which system dynamics models endeavour to grasp or represent relevant aspects of reality. Two main perspectives have tended to be advanced with regard to this topic: the naive realism linked to philosophies of science, such as those of logical positivism and critical rationalism, and the relativism which emerged from the crisis of said philosophies. We will try to show that some recent epistemological proposals are able to offer a new third way that lies between naive realism and relativism. In particular, the "internal realism" of Hilary Putnam is able to fit many of the features of system dynamics, especially the important role mental models play in it.