Joint representation: Modeling a phenomenon with multiple biological systems.
Stud Hist Philos Sci
; 99: 67-76, 2023 06.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37068423
ABSTRACT
Biologists often study particular biological systems as models of a phenomenon of interest even if they already know that the phenomenon is produced by diverse mechanisms and hence none of those systems alone can sufficiently represent it. To understand this modeling practice, the present paper provides an account of how multiple model systems can be used to study a phenomenon that is produced by diverse mechanisms. Even if generalizability of results from a single model system is significantly limited, generalizations concerning specific aspects of mechanisms often hold across certain ranges of biological systems, which enables multiple model systems to jointly represent such a phenomenon. Comparing mechanisms that operate in different biological systems as examples of the same phenomenon also facilitates characterization and investigation of individual mechanisms. I also compare my account with two existing accounts of the use of multiple model systems and argue that my account is distinct from and complementary to them.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Generalização Psicológica
/
Modelos Biológicos
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article