1st Edition
Models and Modeling in the Sciences A Philosophical Introduction
Preface
1. Introduction
2. Models in the Sciences
3. Characterizing and Classifying Models
4. Models and Representation
5. What Makes for a Good (or Bad) Model?
6. Conclusion: Pluralism about Models, Modeling, and Model Evaluation
Biography
Stephen M. Downes is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Utah, USA. He has published articles on the philosophy of biology, the biology of human behavior, and scientific models. He is co-editor, with Edouard Machery, of Arguing about Human Nature (Routledge, 2013).
CHOICE Highly Recommended:
"In this short but thorough and informative work, Downes provides a detailed, judicious overview of the nature of scientific models as fundamental components of the sciences and of the processes of modeling as an essential aspect of scientific practice. 　As part of elucidating the depth and range of models and modeling, Downes provides examples and types of models across multiple disciplines, including biology, physics, psychology, and economics. . . . Summing up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals. Students in two-year technical programs."
D. B. Boersema (Pacific University) in Choice
Reprinted with permission from CHOICE http://www.choicereviews.org, copyright by the American Library Association
