tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140612503596105113.post7444254831999007772..comments2023-04-07T14:21:19.083+03:00Comments on Decisions and Info-Gaps: Mathematical MetaphorsYakov Ben-Haimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10765902456064490854noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9140612503596105113.post-54415103020552593962013-04-29T20:53:47.120+03:002013-04-29T20:53:47.120+03:00I agree that a scientist who constructs a mathemat...I agree that a scientist who constructs a mathematical model or theory chooses to focus on some aspects rather than others.<br /><br />I might have chosen different words though. First, I think that "abstraction" might more precisely describe the notion of selectively ignoring difference, than the word metaphor. A metaphor need not be less precise than that which it describes, though it usually is; to be a metaphor, the main requirement is that it be different. Think of the Greek roots for metaphor which may be phrased roughly as "Bear [in mind] differently [with a change]". By contrast, selectively ignoring some features, or focusing on a feature rather than an object itself, is the very meaning of abstraction.<br /><br />Second I'd say you're really talking about models, which tend to be part of theories, rather than on theories per se. A model is an abstraction; unlike a theory, it need not make predictions. Unlike a useful hypothesis, a model need not even be testable to be useful.<br /><br />This nitpicking aside I enjoyed your essay as usual, Yakov.<br /><br />-XavierXertronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15194741167424465803noreply@blogger.com