simulation as a causal/inferential "chimera"

[Steve Johnson <***>]

Now I'm confused again - the modelling relation only
states that the images of consequents should be
consequents of images. So the whole commutativity has
to do with encoding/decoding of measurable observables
into images. Where does entailment structure come in?
The only thing we do as we model is to come up with a
suitable inferential structure such that the relation
commutes. If a computer simulation is commuting in a
sence that images of consequents correspond to
consequents of images, why is it not a model?

True the entailments in the hardware do correspond to
the entailments in the airplane but we need to keep in
mind that in the case of a computer simulation the
right side of the simulation is NOT just the causal 
entailments of the hardware but entailments of the
hardware PLUS the inferential entailments in the
software put in by humans. So in this sense a computer
simulation is a Causal/Inferential chimera but as a
whole it fulfils the commutativity condition so why is
it not a model?






--- Howard Pattee <***> wrote:

> Judith,
> 
> I have to side with Tim. A model airplane has the
> basic causal entailments 
> of an airplane. It flies. A simulator doesn't. This
> is an important 
> distinction.
> 
> Howard
> 



                
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