Epistemic Landscapes Reloaded: An Examination of Agent-Based Models in Social Epistemology

Authored by Pinto Manuela Fernandez, Pinto Daniel Fernandez

Date Published: 2018

DOI: 10.12759/hsr.43.2018.1.48-71

Sponsors: No sponsors listed

Platforms: FreePascal

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Flow charts

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

``Epistemische Landschaften reloaded. Eine Analyse agentenbasierter Modelle in der sozialen Erkenntnistheorie{''}. Weisberg and Muldoon's epistemic landscape model (ELM) has been one of the most significant contributions to the use of agent-based models in philosophy. The model provides an innovative approach to establishing the optimal distribution of cognitive labor in scientific communities, using an epistemic landscape. In the paper, we provide a critical examination of ELM. First, we show that the computing mechanism for ELM is correct insofar as we are able to replicate the results using another programming language. Second, we show that small changes in the rules that determine the behavior of individual agents can lead to important changes in simulation results. Accordingly, we claim that ELM results are robust with respect to the computing mechanism, but not necessarily across parameter space. We conclude by reflecting on the possible lessons to be gained from ELM as a class of simulations or cluster of models.

Tags

Agent-based models Economics Social epistemology Science Cognitive labor Division Epistemic landscape Division of cognitive labor