Logos & Episteme Logos & Episteme
Virginia GRIGORIADOU and Frank COUTELIERIS
ABSTRACT: In this paper, we discuss the existence of a specific criterion on which modern scientists and philosophers could focus to determine the basic categories of scientific models. We first examine why the categorization of scientific models is considered significant and why this type of research might be useful for modern philosophers. Moreover, we critically approach Susan G. Sterrett’s scientific models’ categorization, as an initial point for further discussion on this issue. Sterrett’s models’ categorization is based on the nature of the system under study and the operation of the representation mechanism. Instead, we propose that the most appropriate criterion of scientific models’ categorization is the nature of the model itself, as this criterion is clear, fundamental, and succeeds in eliminating the influence of the human factor during the process of classifying models as it indicates in which category every scientific model may be classified. To support our approach, we present a classification scheme of five general categories of models, which are comprehensive and distinguishable. Classifying models in such a manner can potentially impact the process of understanding and defining the notion of the scientific model in general.
