To be clear I did NOT assert that a model means something on its own. Nor did I ask what the model intends. I do see a risk that others might go in that direction, though.
In fact, I agree completely that models are only models by way of analogy. I'd also claim that referents can be models of their models. (Invertible analogies.) On 1/15/20 12:26 PM, Eric Charles wrote: > There is an interesting issue that often comes up in these contexts, in which > someone asserts that the models mean something all on their own. If it is > someone who has picked up our language, they might, for example, ask "What > does the model intend? The Model, itself? " > > Glen does this by saying "there's good reason to believe you will *never* > actually understand how your model works." > > I have seen Nick oscillate in those discussions, towards and away from > thinking he needs to rewrite everything. > > I insist that is not the direction should be going in. The model doesn't > intend anything. A person, who is offering a model, intends something by > it, and does not intend other things. Because THAT is what we'r are talking > about.... There IS a chance (though no guarentee) that the person offering a > model (fully) understands what they do or do not intend to match between the > model and the situation that is modeled. > > We aren't talking about anything other than people doing things. X is "a > model" if/when someone thinks an aspect of X matches something happening > somewhere else, and all models contain both intended and unintended > implications. This makes a question of whether or not someone "fully > understands their model" a question primarily about the understanding, not > primarily about "the model itself". -- ☣ uǝlƃ ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com archives back to 2003: http://friam.471366.n2.nabble.com/ FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove
