Contra Epstein, Good Explanations Predict

Nicholas S. Thompson () and Patrick Derr ()

Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, 2009, vol. 12

Abstract: Epstein has argued that an explanation\'s capacity to make predictions should play a minor role in its evaluation . This view contradicts centuries of scientific practice and, at least, decades of philosophy of science. We argue that the view is not only unfounded but seems to arise from a mistaken fear that ABM models are in need of defense against the criticism that they don\'t necessarily forecast events in the natural or social world.

Keywords: ABM; Agent Based Model; Modeling; Prediction; Explanation; Philosophy of Science (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-01-31

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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:jas:jasssj:2008-75-2

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