creators_name: Glennan, Stuart
type: pittpreprint
datestamp: 2003-04-12
lastmod: 2010-10-07 15:11:45
metadata_visibility: show
title: A Model of Models
subjects: models-and-idealization
full_text_status: public
keywords: models, mechanisms, semantic conception of theories
abstract: Although many philosophers of science have recognized the importance of modeling in contemporary science, relatively little work has been done in developing a general account of models. The most widely accepted account, put forth by advocates of the semantic conception of theories, misleadingly identifies scientific models with the models of mathematical logic. I present an alternative theory of scientific models in which models are defined by their representational relation to a physical system. I explore in some detail a particular sort of model called a �mechanical model� I illustrate the applicability of my approach by applying it to a problem in contemporary speech perception research. The model of models is used to analyze how competing models of the mechanisms of vowel normalization are constructed, tested, and revised. 
date: 2000-08
date_type: published
citation: Glennan, Stuart (2000) A Model of Models. [Preprint]
document_url: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/1134/1/Models1.4.pdf