Re: Interesting Take on Modeling

[Jim Devine <jdevine03@xxxxxxxxx>]

> Jim Devine wrote:
>
> > 1) there are _no_ limits to modeling as a strategy for understanding,
> > explaining, and/or predicting phenomena in the real world.
> >
> > 2) there are _a lot of_ limits to this strategy, but it might have
> > some positive effects in clarifying our understanding of the real
> > world.
> >
> > I don't think anyone believes in the first view (unless they haven't
> > thought about these issues at all). Most serious economists would
> > favor the second view. Ted's comment attacks the first view, but I
> > don't think there will be any defenders (on this list, at least). #1
> > seems a straw-economist view.

On 2/22/07, Ted Winslow wrote:
> As I explicitly said, the use of deductive axiomatic reasoning I was
> criticizing was the one that ignores the limits "internal relations"
> place on the applicability of such reasoning.... It's
> not true that "everyone" understands and accepts this argument.

one doesn't need to understand Whitehead or Marx and internal
relations to understand that modeling is limited. Even the Chicago
"positive economics" nuts know that their models are limited.
--
Jim Devine / "The truth is more important than the facts." -- Frank Lloyd Wright