Skip to main content
Log in

Computersimulationen: Modellierungen 2. Ordnung

  • Published:
Journal for General Philosophy of Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Es soll ein Beitrag zur epistemischen Charakterisierung von Computersimulationen als jenseits von Experiment und Theorie geleistet werden. Es wird argumentiert, dass die in der Simulationstechnik eingesetzten Verfahren nicht numerische Lösungen liefern, sondern deren Dynamik mittels generativer Mechanismen imitieren. Die Computersimulationen in der Klimatologie werden als systematisches wie historisches Fallbeispiel behandelt. Erst ,,Simulationsexperimente“ gestatten es, mittels Modellen eine Dynamik zu imitieren, ohne deren Grundgleichungen zu ,,lösen“.

Summary

Computer simulations will be characterized in epistemic respect as a method between experiment and theory. It will be argued that simulations do not provide numerical solutions, rather they use generative mechanisms to imitate a dynamics. Climate science will be considered as a case both systematically and historically. Only simulation experiments allow to build models that imitate a dynamics without solving the relevant equations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • Arakawa, A.: 1966, ‘Computational Design for Long-Term Numerical Integration of the Equations of Fluid Motion: Two-Dimensional Incompressible Flow. Part I’, J. Comp. Phys. 1, 119–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arakawa, A.: 2000, A Personal Perspective on the Early Years of General Circulation Modeling at UCLA. General Circulation Model Development. D. A. Randall. San Diego, Academic Press: 1–66.

  • Brennan, R. D.: 1968, Simulation is Wha-a-t? Part II. Simulation, The Dynamic Modeling of Ideas and Systems with Computers. J. McLeod. New York, McGraw-Hill: 5–12.

  • Dowling, D.: 1999, ‘Experimenting on Theories,’ Science in Context 12(2), 261–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox Keller, E.: 2003, Models, Simulation, and “Computer Experiments.’ The Philosophy of Scientific Experimentation. H. Radder. Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Press.

  • Galison, P.: 1996, Computer Simulations and the Trading Zone. The Disunity of Science: Boundaries, Contexts, and Power. P. Galison. Stanford, Calif., Stanford Univ. Press: 118–157.

  • Gates, W. L.: 1988, Climate and the Climate System. Physically-Based Modelling and Simulation of Climate and Climate Change. M. E. Schlesinger. Dordrecht, Kluwer: 3–22.

  • Guetzkow, H.: 1962, Simulation in Social Science. Englewood Cliffs, Prentice Hall.

  • Hackbusch, W.: 1985, Multi-Grid Methods. Theory and Applications. Heidelberg, Springer.

  • Hartmann, S.: 1996, The World as a Process. Simulations in the Natural and Social Sciences. Modelling and Simulation in the Social Sciences from the Philosophy of Science Point of View. R. Hegselmann. Dordrecht, Kluwer: 77–100.

  • Hegselmann, R., Ed: 1996, Modelling and Simulation in the Social Sciences from the Philosophy of Science Point of View. Dordrecht, Kluwer.

  • Hoßfeld, F.: 1999, Komplexität und Berechenbarkeit: Über die Möglichkeiten und Grenzen des Computers. Vortrag an der N-W Akademie der Wissenschaften.

  • Hughes, R. I. G.: 1999, The Ising Model, Computer Simulation, and Universal Physics. Models as Mediators. M. S. Morgan and M. Morrison. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press: 97–145.

  • Humphreys, P.: 1991, Computer Simulations. PSA 1990. F. Fine, Wessels. East Lansing, Philosophy of Science Association. 2, 497–506.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, P.: 1994, Numerical Experimentation. Patrick Suppes: Scientific Philosopher. P. Humphreys. Dordrecht, Kluwer. 2: 103–121.

  • Lewis, J. M.: 1998, ‘Clarifying the Dynamics of the General Circulation: Phillips’s 1956 Experiment,’ Bull. Am. Met. Soc., 79(1), 39–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, E.: 1967, The Nature of the Theory of the General circulation of the Atmosphere. Geneva, World Meteorological Organization WMO, No. 218, TP. 115:161.

  • Morgan, M. S. and M. Morrison, Eds: 1999, Models As Mediators. Perspectives on Natural and Social Science. Ideas in Context 52. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

  • Morrison, M.: 1999, Models as autonomous agents. Models As Mediators. Perspectives on Natural and Social Science. M. S. Morgan and M. Morrison. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press: 38–65.

  • Neelamkavil, F.: 1987, Computer Simulation and Modelling. New York, John Wiley and Sons.

  • Netz, H., Ed: 1965, Formeln der Mathematik. Braunschweig, Westermann.

  • Neumann, J. v. and R. D. Richtmyer.: 1947, Statistical Methods in Neutron Diffusion. Analogies Between Analogies; the mathematical reports of S. M. Ulam and his Los Alamos collaborators. S. M. Ulam, A. R. Bednarek and F. Ulam. Berkeley and Los Angeles, California, University of California Press.

  • Pfeffer, R. L., Ed: 1960, Dynamics of Climate. The Proceedings of a Conference on the Application of Numerical Integration Techniques to the Problem of the General Circulation held October 26–28, 1955. Oxford, Pergamon.

  • Phillips, N.: 1956, “The General Circulation of the Atmosphere: A Numerical Experiment’, Quat. J. R. Met. Soc. 82(352), 123–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, N.: 1959, An Example of Non-Linear Computational Instability. The atmosphere and the sea in motion. B. Bolin. New York, Rockefeller Institute Press.

  • Phillips, N.: 2000, Foreword. General Circulation Model Development. D. A. Randall. San Diego: xxvii–xxix.

  • Rohrlich, F.: 1991, Computer Simulation in the Physical Sciences. PSA 1990. F. Forbes, Wessels. East Lansing, Philosophy of Science Association. 2: 507–518.

  • Seiden, P. E. and L. S. Schulman: 1990, ‘Percolation Model of Galactic Structure’, Advances in Physics 39(1).

  • Stöckler, M.: 2000, On Modeling and Simulations as Instruments for the Study of Complex Systems. Science at Century’s End. M. Carrier, G. J. Massey and L. Ruetsche. Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Press: 355–373.

  • Weart, S.: 2001, Arakawa’s Computation Trick, American Institute of Physics.: 2001, http://www.aip.org/history/climate/arakawa.htm. Version 21.1.2003.

  • Wiin-Nielsen, A.: 1991, ‘The Birth of Numerical Weather Prediction’, Tellus 43, 36–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winsberg, E.: 1999, ‘Sanctioning Models: The Epistemology of Simulation’, Science in Context 12(2), 275–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winsberg, E.: 2003, ‘Simulated Experiments: Methodology for a Virtual World’, Philosophy of Science 70: 105-125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfram, S.: 2002, A New Kind of Science. Champaign, Wolfram Media.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Johannes Lenhard.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Küppers, G., Lenhard, J. Computersimulationen: Modellierungen 2. Ordnung. J Gen Philos Sci 36, 305–329 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10838-006-2348-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10838-006-2348-1

Key words

Navigation