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The Practical Modelling of Context‐Dependent Causal Processes – A Recasting of Robert Rosen 's Thought
Author(s) -
Edmonds Bruce
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
chemistry and biodiversity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.427
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1612-1880
pISSN - 1612-1872
DOI - 10.1002/cbdv.200790194
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , epistemology , realm , abandonment (legal) , dependency (uml) , cognitive science , scope (computer science) , computer science , management science , philosophy , psychology , artificial intelligence , economics , political science , history , law , archaeology , programming language
This paper is a critical recasting of some of Robert Rosen 's thought. It is argued that a lot of the thrust of Rosen 's work can be better understood when recast in terms of the context dependency of causal models. When recast in this way, I seek to highlight how his thought does not lead to the abandonment of formal modelling and a descent into relativism, but a more careful and rigours science of complex systems. This also sheds light on several aspects of modelling, including the need for multiple models, the nature of modelling noise, and why adaptive systems cause particular problems to modellers. In this way, I hope to decrease researchers fear that, by taking Rosen 's criticisms seriously, they would have to abandon the realm of acceptable science.