The Practical Modelling of Context-Dependent
Causal Processes – A Recasting of Robert Rosen’s Thought
CPM Report No.: 07-172
By: Bruce Edmonds
Abstract
The paper is a critical recasting of some of Robert Rosen’s
thought. It is argued that a lot of the thrust of his work can be
better
understood when re-cast in terms of the context-dependency of causal
models.
When re-cast in this way I seek to highlight how his thought does not
lead to
the abandonment of formal modelling and a descent into relativism but a
more
careful and rigours science of complex systems. This also sheds
light on
several aspects of modelling including: the need for multiple models;
the
nature of modelling noise; and why adaptive systems cause particular
problems
to modellers. In this way I hope to decrease researchers fear
that, by taking
Rosen’s criticisms seriously, they would have to abandon the realm of
acceptable science.
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