Learning in a Landscape: Simulation-building as Reflexive Intervention

Details Learning in a Landscape: Simulation-building as Reflexive Intervention Learning in a Landscape: Simulation-building as Reflexive Intervention

2011-08-28

arxiv.org/abs/1108.5502v1

Physics

History and Philosophy of Physics

37 pages

Scientific paper

This article makes a dual contribution to scholarship in science and technology studies (STS) on simulation-building. It both documents a specific simulation-building project, and demonstrates a concrete contribution to interdisciplinary work of STS insights. The article analyses the struggles that arise in the course of determining what counts as theory, as model and even as a simulation. Such debates are especially decisive when working across disciplinary boundaries, and their resolution is an important part of the work involved in building simulations. In particular, we show how ontological arguments about the value of simulations tend to determine the direction of simulation-building. This dynamic makes it difficult to maintain an interest in the heterogeneity of simulations and a view of simulations as unfolding scientific objects. As an outcome of our analysis of the process and reflections about interdisciplinary work around simulations, we propose a chart, as a tool to facilitate discussions about simulations. This chart can be a means to create common ground among actors in a simulation-building project, and a support for discussions that address other features of simulations besides their ontological status. Rather than foregrounding the chart's classificatory potential, we stress its (past and potential) role in discussing and reflecting on simulation-building as interdisciplinary endeavor. This chart is a concrete instance of the kinds of contributions that STS can make to better, more reflexive practice of simulation-building.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Learning in a Landscape: Simulation-building as Reflexive Intervention does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Learning in a Landscape: Simulation-building as Reflexive Intervention, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Learning in a Landscape: Simulation-building as Reflexive Intervention will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-97777