Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 42 (2):334-341 (2011)
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Abstract |
A distinction is made between theory-driven and phenomenological models. It is argued that phenomenological models are significant means by which theory is applied to phenomena. They act both as sources of knowledge of their target systems and are explanatory of the behaviors of the latter. A version of the shell-model of nuclear structure is analyzed and it is explained why such a model cannot be understood as being subsumed under the theory structure of Quantum Mechanics. Thus its representational capacity does not stem from its close link to theory. It is shown that the shell model yields knowledge about the target and is explanatory of certain behaviors of nuclei. Aspects of the process by which the shell model acquires its representational capacity are analyzed. It is argued that these point to the conclusion that the representational status of the model is a function of its capacity to function as a source of knowledge and its capacity to postulate and explain underlying mechanisms that give rise to the observed behavior of its target.
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Keywords | Models Idealization Abstraction Representation Mechanisms |
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Reprint years | 2011 |
DOI | 10.1016/j.shpsa.2010.11.041 |
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References found in this work BETA
Scientific Representation: Against Similarity and Isomorphism.Mauricio Suárez - 2003 - International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 17 (3):225-244.
Scientific Representation and the Semantic View of Theories.Roman Frigg - 2006 - Theoria 21 (1):49-65.
Models and Stories in Hadron Physics.Stephan Hartmann - 1999 - In Margaret Morrison & Mary Morgan (eds.), Models as Mediators: Perspectives on Natural and Social Science. pp. 52--326.
Modelling Nature: Between Physics and the Physical World.Margaret C. Morrison - 1998 - Philosophia Naturalis 35 (1):65-85.
Models and the Limits of Theory: Quantum Hamiltonians and the BCS Model of Superconductivity.Nancy Cartwright - 1999 - In Mary Morgan & Margaret Morrison (eds.), Models as Mediators: Perspectives on Natural and Social Science. Cambridge University Press. pp. 241-281.
View all 6 references / Add more references
Citations of this work BETA
Modelling and Representing: An Artefactual Approach to Model-Based Representation.Tarja Knuuttila - 2011 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 42 (2):262-271.
One Phenomenon, Many Models: Inconsistency and Complementarity.Margaret Morrison - 2011 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 42 (2):342-351.
One Phenomenon, Many Models: Inconsistency and Complementarity.Margaret Morrison - 2011 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 42 (2):342-351.
Idealization and Abstraction in Scientific Modeling.Demetris Portides - 2018 - Synthese 198 (Suppl 24):5873-5895.
View all 6 citations / Add more citations
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