Agent-Based Models and Simulations in Economics and Social Sciences: From Conceptual Exploration to Distinct Ways of Experimenting

• Published in: Journal of artificial societies and social simulation Vol. 13; no. 1
• Main Authors: Phan, Denis, Varenne, Franck
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: SimSoc Consortium 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Credibility; Cultural Pluralism; Economics; Economics and Finance; Epistemology; Experiments; History, Philosophy and Sociology of Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; Multiculturalism; Power; Social sciences; Sociology; Economics; Expérience; Agent-Based Models and Simulations; Credible World; Exploration conceptuelle; Social Sciences; Epistemology; Experiment; Monde du modèle; Modèles et simulations à base d'agents; Epistémologie; Sciences sociales; Denotational Hierarchy; Economie; Monde crédible; Conceptual Exploration; Model World; Hiérarchie dénotationelle
• ISSN: 1460-7425; 1460-7425
• DOI: 10.18564/jasss.1532

Now that complex Agent-Based Models and computer simulations spread over economics and social sciences - as in most sciences of complex systems -, epistemological puzzles (re)emerge. We introduce new epistemological concepts so as to show to what extent authors are right when they focus on some empirical, instrumental or conceptual significance of their model or simulation. By distinguishing between models and simulations, between types of models, between types of computer simulations and between types of empiricity obtained through a simulation, section 2 gives the possibility to understand more precisely - and then to justify - the diversity of the epistemological positions presented in section 1. Our final claim is that careful attention to the multiplicity of the denotational powers of symbols at stake in complex models and computer simulations is necessary to determine, in each case, their proper epistemic status and credibility. Adapted from the source document.