Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-qxdb6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T14:58:06.470Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Les simulations sont-elles des expériences numériques?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2016

JULIE JEBEILE
JULIE JEBEILE*
Affiliation:
Université Paris — Sorbonne (Sciences, normes, décision)
*
†<julie.jebeile@gmail.com>
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Some philosophers see an analogy between simulation and experiment. But, once we acknowledge some similarities between computer simulations and experiments, can we conclude from them that simulations generate empirical knowledge, as experiments do? In this paper, I argue that the similarities between simulation and experiment give the scientist at most the illusion that she is conducting an experiment, but cannot seriously ground the analogy. However, it does not follow that experiments are always epistemologically superior to simulations. I analyze the cases when simulations and experiments equally yield new empirical knowledge.

Certains philosophes ont défendu qu’une analogie existait entre simulations et expériences. Mais, une fois que l’on a reconnu quelques similitudes entre elles, peut-on réellement conclure qu’en vertu de celles-ci les simulations produisent de nouvelles connaissances empiriques comme les expériences? Je soutiens que ces similitudes donnent tout au plus à l’utilisateur d’une simulation l’illusion qu’il a affaire à une expérience, mais ne peuvent fonder sérieusement une analogie entre simulation et expérience. Cependant il ne faudrait pas conclure que l’expérience est épistémologiquement supérieure à la simulation. J’analyse les cas pour lesquels simulation et expérience engendrent également des connaissances nouvelles.

Type
Articles
Information
Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review / Revue canadienne de philosophie , Volume 55 , Issue 1 , March 2016 , pp. 59 - 86
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Philosophical Association 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Références bibliographiques

Barberousse, Anouk, Franceschelli, Sara et Imbert, Cyrille 2009 «Computer Simulations as Experiments», Synthese, vol. 169, no 3, p. 557–574.Google Scholar
Barberousse, Anouk et Vorms, Marion 2013 «Computer Simulations and Empirical Data», dans Durán, J. M. et Arnold, E., dir., Computer Simulations and the Changing Face of Scientific Experimentation, Newcastle, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, p. 29–45.Google Scholar
Dowling, Deborah 1999 «Experimenting on Theories», Science in Context, vol. 12, no 2, p. 261–273.Google Scholar
Duc, Pierre-Alain et Frédéric, Bournaud 2008 «Tidal Debris from High-Velocity Collisions as Fake Dark Galaxies: A Numerical Model of VIRGOHI21», The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 673, no 2, p. 787–797. doi: 10.1086/524868 Google Scholar
Galison, Peter 1996 «Computer Simulations and the Trading Zone», dans Galison, P. et Stump, D., dir., The Disunity of Science: Boundaries, Contexts, and Power, Stanford (CA), Stanford University Press, p. 118–157.Google Scholar
Giere, Ronald 2009 «Is Computer Simulation Changing the Face of Experimentation?» Philosophical Studies, vol. 143, p. 59–62.Google Scholar
Guala, Francesco 2002 «Models, Simulations, and Experiments», dans Magnani, L. et Nersessian, N., dir., Model-based Reasoning: Science, Technology, Values, New York (NY), Kluwer/Plenum, p. 59–74.Google Scholar
Guala, Francesco 2005 The Methodology of Experimental Economics, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Hacking, Ian 1983 Representing and Intervening: Introductory Topics in the Philosophy of Natural Science, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Humphreys, Paul 1994 «Numerical Experimentation», dans Humphreys, P., dir., Patrick Suppes: Scientific Philosopher. Philosophy of Physics, Theory Structure, and Measurement Theory, vol. 2, Dordrecht, Kluwer, p. 103–121.Google Scholar
Humphreys, Paul 2004 Extending Ourselves. Computational Science, Empiricism, and Scientific Method, Oxford, Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Imbert, Cyrille 2008 «Le sophiste et ses images : épistémologie du temps simulé», Revue philosophique de la France et de l’étranger, vol. 133, no 3, p. 309–318.Google Scholar
Keller, Evelyn Fox 2003 «Models, Simulation, and ‘Computer Experiments’», dans Radder, H., dir., The Philosophy of Scientific Experimentation, Pittsburgh (PA), University of Pittsburgh Press, p. 198–215.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kuhn, Thomas 1996 The Structure of Scientific Revolutions [1970] , Chicago (IL), University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Liu, Amy Y. et Cohen, Marvin L. 1989 «Prediction of New Low Compressibility Solids», Science, vol. 245, no 4920, p. 841–842.Google Scholar
Mayo, Deborah 1996 Error and the Growth of Experimental Knowledge, Chicago (IL), University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Morgan, Mary S. 2002 «Model Experiments and Models in Experiments», dans Magnani, L. et Nersessian, N., dir., Model-based Reasoning: Science, Technology, Values, New York (NY), Kluwer/Plenum, p. 41–58.Google Scholar
Morgan, Mary S. 2003 «Experiments Without Material Intervention: Model Experiments, Virtual Experiments and Virtually Experiments», dans Radder, H., dir., The Philosophy of Scientific Experimentation, Pittsburgh (PA), University of Pittsburgh Press, p. 216–235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morgan, Mary S. 2005 «Experiments Versus Models: New Phenomena, Inference, and Surprise», Journal of Economic Methodology, vol. 12, no 2, p. 317–329.Google Scholar
Morrison, Margaret 2009 «Models, Measurement and Computer Simulation: the Changing Face of Experimentation», Philosophical Studies, vol. 143, p. 33–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norton, Stephen D. et Suppe, Frederick 2001 «Why Atmospheric Modeling is Good Science», dans Edwards, P. et Miller, C., dir., Changing the Atmosphere: Expert Knowledge and Environmental Governance, Cambridge (MA), The MIT Press, p. 67–106.Google Scholar
Pan, Zicheng, Sun, Hong, Zhang, Yi et Chen, Changfeng 2009 «Harder than Diamond: Superior Indentation Strength of Wurtzite BN and Lonsdaleite», Physical Review Letters, vol. 102.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Parke, Emily 2014 «Experiments, Simulations, and Epistemic Privilege», Philosophy of Science, vol. 81, no 4, p. 516–536.Google Scholar
Parker, Wendy S. 2009 «Does Matter Really Matter? Computer Simulations, Experiments, and Materiality», Synthese, vol. 169, no 3, p. 483–496.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parker, Wendy S. 2008 «Computer Simulation Through an Error-Statistical Lens», Synthese, vol. 163, no 3, p. 371–384.Google Scholar
Pickering, Andrew 1993 «The Mangle of Practice: Agency and Emergence in the Sociology of Science», American Journal of Sociology, vol. 99, no 3, p. 559–589.Google Scholar
Radder, Hans 1996 In and about the World: Philosophical Studies of Science and Technology, Albany (NY), SUNY Press.Google Scholar
Suchman, Lucy 1987 Plans and Situated Actions: The Problem of Human Machine Communication, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Tal, Eran 2011 «From Data to Phenomena and Back Again: Computer-Simulated Signatures», Synthese, vol. 182, no 1, p. 117–129.Google Scholar
Tiles, J. E. 1993 «Experiment as Intervention», British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, vol. 44, no 3, p. 463–475.Google Scholar
Turkle, Sherry et Papert, Seymour. 1991 «Epistemological Pluralism and the Revaluation of the Concrete», dans Harel, I. et Papert, S., dir., Constructionism: Research Reports and Essays 1985-1990, Norwood (NJ), Ablex, p. 161–191.Google Scholar
Winsberg, Eric 2003 «Simulated Experiments: Methodology for a Virtual World», Philosophy of Science, vol. 70, no 1, p. 105–125.Google Scholar
Winsberg, Eric 2009 «A Tale of Two Methods», Synthese, vol. 169, no 3, p. 575–592.Google Scholar
Woodward, James 2003 Making Things Happen: A Theory of Causal Explanation, Oxford, Oxford University Press.Google Scholar