Is Scientific Modeling an Indirect Methodology?

By Karlis Podnieks

This article was inspired by reading papers of Peter Godfrey Smith and Michael Weisberg, especially, P. Godfrey-Smith (2006: The strategy of model-based science, Biology and Philosophy 21(5):725-740) and M. Weisberg (2007: Who is a Modeler? The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 58(2):207-233).

Both authors promote the idea that modeling is an "indirect way" of theorizing. Modelers are trying to understand "a complex real world system via understanding of a simpler, hypothetical system that resembles it in relevant respects"... There is another - "direct way" of theorizing - "seek to directly represent the workings of the real-world system"... Weisberg tries to elaborate on specifics of the "direct way" calling it ADR ("abstract direct representation"...).

My first point is that this distinction unnecessarily complicates the picture. In fact, ADR can be better understood as a form of modeling.

...

... Scientific modeling is not as indirect as it may seem. "Direct theorizing" comes later, as the result of a successful model evolution.

Full text:
K. Podnieks. Is Scientific Modeling an Indirect Methodology?
The Reasoner, Vol. 3, N 1, January 2009, pp. 4-5
(available online).