Models as Make-Believe: Imagination, Fiction and Scientific Representation

by Adam Toon

Overview

Scientists often try to understand the world by building simplified and idealised models of it. Adam Toon develops a new approach to scientific models by comparing them to the dolls and toy trucks of children's imaginative games, and offers a unified framework to solve difficult metaphysical problems and help to make sense of scientific practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781349336876
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	01/01/2012
Series:	New Directions in the Philosophy of Science
Edition description:	1st ed. 2012
Pages:	148
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

ADAM TOON is Marie Curie Fellow at the University of Exeter.

Table of Contents

List of Figures Preface Acknowledgements Introduction Models and Representation What Models Are How Models Represent Carbon in Cardboard Playing with Molecules Conclusion Notes References Index