The Dark Side of the Force: When computer simulations lead us astray and "model think" narrows our imagination. (revised version, October 2006)

Eckhart Arnold


The Dark Side of the Force: When computer simulations lead us astray and "model think" narrows our imagination. (revised version, October 2006)



Author: Eckhart Arnold

Date: October 14th 2006


Abstract:

This paper is intended as a critical examination of the question of when and under what conditions the use of computer simulations is beneficial to scientific explanations. This objective is pursued in two steps: First, I try to establish clear criteria that simulations must meet in order to be explanatory. Basically, a simulation has explanatory power only if it includes all causally relevant factors of a given empirical configuration and if the simulation delivers stable results within the measurement inaccuracies of the input parameters.

In the second step, I examine a few examples of Axelrod-style simulations as they have been used to understand the evolution of cooperation (Axelrod, Schüßler). These simulations do not meet the criteria for explanatory validity and it can be shown, as I believe, that they lead us astray from the scientific problems they have been addressed to solve.

Version history:


Bibliographical information

Citing:

Eckhart Arnold: The Dark Side of the Force. When computer simulations lead us astray and model think narrows our imagination. (revised version), on: Homepage Eckhart Arnold, 2006, www.eckhartarnold.de


BibTeX record:

@InCollection{Arnold2006_revised,
Title = {The Dark Side of the Force. When computer
simulations lead us astray and model think
narrows our imagination},
Author = {Eckhart Arnold},
Booktitle = {Homepage Eckhart Arnold},
Publisher = {Eckhart Arnold},
Year = {2006},
Editor = {Eckhart Arnold},
Url = {https://eckhartarnold.de/papers/
2006\_simulations\_revised/Simulations\_revised.html}
PDFURL = {https://eckhartarnold.de/papers/
2006\_simulations\_revised/Simulations\_revised.pdf}
}

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