Symmetry and asymmetry: Problems and prospects for modeling

Abstract

Modeling methodologies attempt to provide an explanation of the phenomenon of ultimate reality. It is possible to distinguish between symmetric and asymmetric relations between ultimate reality and the world for which said reality is ultimate. When such a distinction is made, questions arise as to the adequacy of modeling as a methodoly for approaching asymmetric relations. This leads to a further distinction between models of ultimate reality itself and models of ultimacy, the relationship between ultimate reality and the world. This distinction has important implications for the reasonableness of comparing models if the phenomenon being modeled is not logically identical.