Ebook: Modelling and Simulation in the Social Sciences from the Philosophy of Science Point of View

Model building in the social sciences can increasingly rely on well elaborated formal theories. At the same time inexpensive large computational capacities are now available. Both make computer-based model building and simulation possible in social science, whose central aim is in particular an understanding of social dynamics. Such social dynamics refer to public opinion formation, partner choice, strategy decisions in social dilemma situations and much more. In the context of such modelling approaches, novel problems in philosophy of science arise which must be analysed - the main aim of this book.
Interest in social simulation has recently been growing rapidly world- wide, mainly as a result of the increasing availability of powerful personal computers. The field has also been greatly influenced by developments in cellular automata theory (from mathematics) and in distributed artificial intelligence which provided tools readily applicable to social simulation.
This book presents a number of modelling and simulation approaches and their relations to problems in philosophy of science. It addresses sociologists and other social scientists interested in formal modelling, mathematical sociology, and computer simulation as well as computer scientists interested in social science applications, and philosophers of social science.

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Model building in the social sciences can increasingly rely on well elaborated formal theories. At the same time inexpensive large computational capacities are now available. Both make computer-based model building and simulation possible in social science, whose central aim is in particular an understanding of social dynamics. Such social dynamics refer to public opinion formation, partner choice, strategy decisions in social dilemma situations and much more. In the context of such modelling approaches, novel problems in philosophy of science arise which must be analysed - the main aim of this book.
Interest in social simulation has recently been growing rapidly world- wide, mainly as a result of the increasing availability of powerful personal computers. The field has also been greatly influenced by developments in cellular automata theory (from mathematics) and in distributed artificial intelligence which provided tools readily applicable to social simulation.
This book presents a number of modelling and simulation approaches and their relations to problems in philosophy of science. It addresses sociologists and other social scientists interested in formal modelling, mathematical sociology, and computer simulation as well as computer scientists interested in social science applications, and philosophers of social science.

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Model building in the social sciences can increasingly rely on well elaborated formal theories. At the same time inexpensive large computational capacities are now available. Both make computer-based model building and simulation possible in social science, whose central aim is in particular an understanding of social dynamics. Such social dynamics refer to public opinion formation, partner choice, strategy decisions in social dilemma situations and much more. In the context of such modelling approaches, novel problems in philosophy of science arise which must be analysed - the main aim of this book.
Interest in social simulation has recently been growing rapidly world- wide, mainly as a result of the increasing availability of powerful personal computers. The field has also been greatly influenced by developments in cellular automata theory (from mathematics) and in distributed artificial intelligence which provided tools readily applicable to social simulation.
This book presents a number of modelling and simulation approaches and their relations to problems in philosophy of science. It addresses sociologists and other social scientists interested in formal modelling, mathematical sociology, and computer simulation as well as computer scientists interested in social science applications, and philosophers of social science.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Holism, Individualism and Emergent Properties....Pages 1-12
Simulation and Rational Practice....Pages 13-27
Epistemic Cultures in the Social Sciences....Pages 29-63
Impossible Models....Pages 65-75
The World as a Process....Pages 77-100
Evolutionary Explanations from a Philosophy of Science Point of View....Pages 101-122
Some Thoughts on the Methodological Status of the Darmstadt Micro Macro Simulator (DMMS)....Pages 123-139
On the Measurement of Action....Pages 141-156
Structuralist Models, Idealization, and Approximation....Pages 157-167
A Concept of Explanation for Social Interaction Models....Pages 169-181
Simulation and Structuralism....Pages 183-207
Cellular Automata in the Social Sciences....Pages 209-233
Computer Simulations of Sustainable Cooperation in Social Dilemmas....Pages 235-247
Modeling Social Change with Cellular Automata....Pages 249-285
Dynamic Social Impact....Pages 287-310
Back Matter....Pages 311-320

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Model building in the social sciences can increasingly rely on well elaborated formal theories. At the same time inexpensive large computational capacities are now available. Both make computer-based model building and simulation possible in social science, whose central aim is in particular an understanding of social dynamics. Such social dynamics refer to public opinion formation, partner choice, strategy decisions in social dilemma situations and much more. In the context of such modelling approaches, novel problems in philosophy of science arise which must be analysed - the main aim of this book.
Interest in social simulation has recently been growing rapidly world- wide, mainly as a result of the increasing availability of powerful personal computers. The field has also been greatly influenced by developments in cellular automata theory (from mathematics) and in distributed artificial intelligence which provided tools readily applicable to social simulation.
This book presents a number of modelling and simulation approaches and their relations to problems in philosophy of science. It addresses sociologists and other social scientists interested in formal modelling, mathematical sociology, and computer simulation as well as computer scientists interested in social science applications, and philosophers of social science.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Holism, Individualism and Emergent Properties....Pages 1-12
Simulation and Rational Practice....Pages 13-27
Epistemic Cultures in the Social Sciences....Pages 29-63
Impossible Models....Pages 65-75
The World as a Process....Pages 77-100
Evolutionary Explanations from a Philosophy of Science Point of View....Pages 101-122
Some Thoughts on the Methodological Status of the Darmstadt Micro Macro Simulator (DMMS)....Pages 123-139
On the Measurement of Action....Pages 141-156
Structuralist Models, Idealization, and Approximation....Pages 157-167
A Concept of Explanation for Social Interaction Models....Pages 169-181
Simulation and Structuralism....Pages 183-207
Cellular Automata in the Social Sciences....Pages 209-233
Computer Simulations of Sustainable Cooperation in Social Dilemmas....Pages 235-247
Modeling Social Change with Cellular Automata....Pages 249-285
Dynamic Social Impact....Pages 287-310
Back Matter....Pages 311-320
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