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The modal basis of scientific modelling
1Department of Philosophy, University of Bristol, Cotham House, Cotham Hill, BS6 6JL Bristol, UK.
Abstract:
The practice of scientific modelling often resorts to hypothetical, false, idealised, targetless, partial, generalised, and other types of modelling that appear to have at least partially non-actual targets. In this paper, I will argue that we can avoid a commitment to non-actual targets by sketching a framework where models are understood as having networks of possibilities as their targets. This raises a further question: what are the truthmakers for the modal claims that we can derive from models? I propose that we can find truthmakers for the modal claims derived from models in actuality, even in the case of supposedly non-actual targets. I then put this framework to use by examining a case study concerning the modelling of superheavy elements.
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What is a Mode?
There can be more than one mode in a data set if multiple values have the same highest frequency. For instance, suppose that the Statistics exam scores of 20 students are: 50; 53; 59; 59; 63; 63; 72; 72; 72; 72; 72; 76; 78; 81; 83; 84; 84; 84; 90; 93. Here, the mode is 72, as it occurs most frequently, five times.
A data set with two modes is called bimodal. For example,...

