A Pragmatic Reading of Friedman's Methodological Essay and What It Tells Us for the Discussion of ABMs

Simon Deichsel () and Andreas Pyka ()
Additional contact information
Simon Deichsel: http://www.philosophie.uni-bremen.de/
Andreas Pyka: http://www.inno.uni-hohenheim.de

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

Abstract: The issues of empirical calibration of parameter values and functional relationships describing the interactions between the various actors plays an important role in agent based modelling. Agent-based models range from purely theoretical exercises focussing on the patterns in the dynamics of interactions processes to modelling frameworks which are oriented closely at the replication of empirical cases. ABMs are classified in terms of their generality and their use of empirical data. In the literature the recommendation can be found to aim at maximizing both criteria by building so-called 'abductive models'. This is almost the direct opposite of Milton Friedman's famous and provocative methodological credo 'the more significant a theory, the more unrealistic the assumptions'. Most methodologists and philosophers of science have harshly criticised Friedman's essay as inconsistent, wrong and misleading. By presenting arguments for a pragmatic reinterpretation of Friedman's essay, we will show why most of the philosophical critique misses the point. We claim that good simulations have to rely on assumptions, which are adequate for the purpose in hand and those are not necessarily the descriptively accurate ones.

Keywords: Methodology; Agent-Based Modelling; Assumptions; Calibration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-10-31

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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:jas:jasssj:2009-61-1

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