Publication Type

Conference Proceeding Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

7-2023

Abstract

The primary aim of this paper is to elevate the status of toy models, toy model based reasoning, and to encourage more focused discussions of them. This paper attempts to satisfy this aim by achieving two, secondary goals. First, it attempts elevate the status of toy models by making clear and elaborating on the distinction between them and representational models, and by discussing the connection between user intentionality and scientific representation (i.e. when a model represents something). And second, this paper attempts to elevate the status of toy models by highlighting, through some important historical examples, how they have been used to do good science—despite the fact, that is, that they do not perform a representational function.

Discipline

Logic and Foundations of Mathematics | Science and Mathematics Education

Research Areas

Integrative Research Areas

Publication

Model-Based Reasoning, Abductive Cognition, Creativity: MBR 2023, Rome, June 7-9: Proceedings

Volume

70

First Page

18

Last Page

34

ISBN

9783031693007

Identifier

10.1007/978-3-031-69300-7_2

Publisher

Springer

City or Country

Cham

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69300-7_2

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