Abstract
This paper presents a philosophical overview of simulation, with an emphasis on the nature of the relation between models and the systems they represent. Model-making is shown to be an essential feature of human thinking. The “abstraction ladder,” which leads from observations of reality to mathematical models, is reviewed from a semantic viewpoint. The problem of validation of the results of a simulation is then outlined. The paper concludes with same philosophical observations on the relation of model and reality.
Reprinted from Simulation, Vol. 29, pp. 161–164, November 1977 with permission of the publisher
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
M. Rubinstein. Patterns of Problem Solving. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
C. Shannon and W. Weaver. The Mathematical Theory of Communications. University of Illinois Press, 1949
S. Golomb. “Mathematical Models — Uses and Limitations”. Aeronautics and Astronautics, 57–59, January 1968, Reprinted in Simulation, 197–198, April 1970.
B.L. Whorf. Language, Thought and Reality. MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1956, Wiley New York.
S.I. Hayakawa. Language in Action. Harcourt, Brace & Company, New York, 1949.
R.G.H. Siu. The Toa of Science: An Essay on Western Knowledge and eastern Wisdom. MIT press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1957, Wiley New York.
A.K. Coomaraswamy. Hinduism and Buddhism. Philosophical Library, New York, 1956.
J.C. Lilly. Simulations of God. Simon and Shuster, New York, 1975.
T.M. Grove and G.A. Bekey. “Sensitivity Problems in the Identification of Biological System Parameters”. Proc. Symposium on Applications of Computer Methods in Engineerin, 625–634, 1977.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bekey, G.A. (2003). Models and Reality: Some Reflections on the Art and Science of Simulation. In: Bekey, G.A., Kogan, B.Y. (eds) Modeling and Simulation: Theory and Practice. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0235-7_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0235-7_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4979-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0235-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive