Modelling and Simulation in the Social Sciences from the Philosophy of Science Point of View

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-viii

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2. Holism, Individualism and Emergent Properties

   • G. Nigel Gilbert

   Pages 1-12

3. Simulation and Rational Practice

   • Hartmut Kliemt

   Pages 13-27

4. Epistemic Cultures in the Social Sciences

   • Karl H. Müller

   Pages 29-63

5. Impossible Models

   • Ulrich Krause

   Pages 65-75

6. The World as a Process

   • Stephan Hartmann

   Pages 77-100

7. Evolutionary Explanations from a Philosophy of Science Point of View

   • Ulrich Mueller

   Pages 101-122

8. Some Thoughts on the Methodological Status of the Darmstadt Micro Macro Simulator (DMMS)

   • Hans-Dieter Heike

   Pages 123-139

9. On the Measurement of Action

   • Wolfgang Balzer

   Pages 141-156

10. Structuralist Models, Idealization, and Approximation

    • C. Ulises Moulines

    Pages 157-167

11. A Concept of Explanation for Social Interaction Models

    • Hans Westmeyer

    Pages 169-181

12. Simulation and Structuralism

    • Klaus G. Troitzsch

    Pages 183-207

13. Cellular Automata in the Social Sciences

    • Rainer Hegselmann

    Pages 209-233

14. Computer Simulations of Sustainable Cooperation in Social Dilemmas

    • Wim B. G. Liebrand, David M. Messick

    Pages 235-247

15. Modeling Social Change with Cellular Automata

    • Andrzej Nowak, Maciej Lewenstein

    Pages 249-285

16. Dynamic Social Impact

    • Bibb Latané

    Pages 287-310

17. Back Matter

    Pages 311-320

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Model building in the social sciences can increasingly rely on well elaborated formal theories. At the same time inexpensive large computational capacities are now available. Both make computer-based model building and simulation possible in social science, whose central aim is in particular an understanding of social dynamics. Such social dynamics refer to public opinion formation, partner choice, strategy decisions in social dilemma situations and much more. In the context of such modelling approaches, novel problems in philosophy of science arise which must be analysed - the main aim of this book.
Interest in social simulation has recently been growing rapidly world- wide, mainly as a result of the increasing availability of powerful personal computers. The field has also been greatly influenced by developments in cellular automata theory (from mathematics) and in distributed artificial intelligence which provided tools readily applicable to social simulation.
This book presents a number of modelling and simulation approaches and their relations to problems in philosophy of science. It addresses sociologists and other social scientists interested in formal modelling, mathematical sociology, and computer simulation as well as computer scientists interested in social science applications, and philosophers of social science.

• artificial intelligence
• philosophy of science
• science
• sociology
• structuralism

`Overall, this is an excellent collection of articles that cover a wide spectrum from the social and natural sciences. It would make a nice companion piece to Chaos Theory in the Social Sciences by Kiel and Elliott. ... There is a rich diversity in approach, subject matter and expertise. ...Hegselmann, Mueller and Troitzsch have put together an extraordinary book that I highly recommend.'
Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation (2001)

• Universität Bremen, Germany

  Rainer Hegselmann

• Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany

  Ulrich Mueller

• Koblenz-Landau Universität, Koblenz, Germany

  Klaus G. Troitzsch

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