Rohwer, Yasha and Rice, Collin (2013) Hypothetical Pattern Idealization and Explanatory Models. Philosophy of Science, 80. ISSN 1539-767X

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Abstract

Highly idealized models, such as the Hawk-Dove game, are pervasive in biological theorizing. We argue that the process and motivation that leads to the introduction of the idealizations into these models is not adequately captured by Michael Weisberg’s (2007) taxonomy of three kinds of idealization. Consequently, a fourth kind of idealization is required, which we call hypothetical pattern idealization. This kind of idealization is used to construct models that aim to be explanatory, but do not aim to be explanations. Since these idealizations are widely used in biology (and plausibly economics), incorporating hypothetical pattern idealizations is essential to providing an adequate account of the use of idealization in science.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Rohwer, Yasha yahsa.rohwer@oit.edu Rice, Collin collin.rice@colostate.edu
Keywords:	Idealization; Modeling; Patterns
Subjects:	General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Game Theory General Issues > Models and Idealization
Depositing User:	Collin Rice
Date Deposited:	22 Aug 2025 13:59
Last Modified:	22 Aug 2025 13:59
Item ID:	26309
Journal or Publication Title:	Philosophy of Science
Publisher:	University of Chicago Press
Official URL:	https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/philosophy...
Subjects:	General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Game Theory General Issues > Models and Idealization
Date:	2013
Volume:	80
ISSN:	1539-767X
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/26309

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