Interpreting and understanding simulations: The philosophy of social simulation

Abstract

Simulations are usually directed at some version of the question: What is the relationship between the individual actor and the collective community? Among social scientists, this question generally falls under the topic of emergence. Sociological theorists and philosophers of science have developed sophisticated approaches to emergence, including the critical question: to what extent can emergent phenomena be reduced to explanations in terms of their components? Modelers often proceed without considering these issues; the risk is that one might develop a simulation that does not accurately reflect the observed empirical facts or one that implicitly sides with one side of a theoretical debate that remains unresolved. In this chapter, I provide some tips for those developing simulations, by drawing on a strong recent tradition of analyzing scientific explanation that is found primarily in the philosophy of science but also to some extent in sociology.