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Digital Library of the
European Council for Modelling and Simulation |
Title: |
Higher-Level Modelling Languages And
(Anti)Reductionist Perspectives Within Philosophy |
Authors: |
Catholijn
M.Jonker, Jan Treur |
Published in: |
(2006).ECMS
2006 Proceedings edited by: W. Borutzky, A. Orsoni, R. Zobel. European
Council for Modeling and Simulation. doi:10.7148/2006 ISBN:
0-9553018-0-7 20th
European Conference on Modelling and Simulation, Bonn,
May 28-31, 2006 |
Citation
format: |
Jonker, C. M.,
& Treur, J. (2006). Higher-Level Modelling
Languages And (Anti)Reductionist Perspectives Within
Philosophy. ECMS 2006 Proceedings edited by: W. Borutzky,
A. Orsoni, R. Zobel
(pp. 244-252). European Council for Modeling and Simulation. doi:10.7148/2006-0244 |
DOI: |
http://dx.doi.org/10.7148/2006-0244 |
Abstract: |
In the
philosophical literature, it is implicitly assumed that the advantages of
reduction of are based on the elimination of a higher-level theory. Antireductionist philosophers cast
doubt on the existence of reduction relations between higher-level and lower-level theories. This is a debatable
strategy in view of the scientific progress made in areas such as
Biochemistry and Neuroscience.
An alternative strategy accepts the existence of reduction relations, but claims
that this can support an antireductionist view on development and use of higher-level theories. To support this position, as a case study,
the historical development of modeling languages at different levels of
abstraction is considered. It shows how a practitioner can concentrate work
at a higher-level of abstraction, while hidden for the human, within a
computer automated translations to lower levels are made based on reduction
relations. The higher modelling levels dramatically
increased the complexity of applications that came within reach. |
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