Historical and Philosophical Perspectives on the Activity of Modelling

Abstract

The activity of modelling entails the conception, representation and execution of a model. In this paper we explore this activity from a historical perspective, by positioning it within the philosophy of science, and by taking a practice-based perspective. We draw a clear distinction between the internal and implicit conceptual model that exists within the mind of the modeller, and its external and explicit representational and executable forms. As a field we have focused much of our efforts on model representation and execution, while largely skirting around the processes that lie behind how models are conceived. Ultimately, better understanding these processes is important for improving the practice of modelling.