MODEL (Generic and Concrete)
Charles François (2004). MODEL (Generic and Concrete), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(2): 2144.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 2144 ▶ |
| Object type | Methodology or model |
J. ARACIL proposes the following distinction between “generic” and “concrete” model, in order “to clarify some ambiguity in the ordinary use of the term model”:
- “When one speaks currently about models there is some vagueness that is convenient to analyze… On the one hand, one speaks of a model without specifying the numerical values of the parameters. In this case we use the term ”model“ with the meaning of ”generic model M“. Giving values to the parameters we have a ”concrete model C“. This is the second meaning of the word model” (1979, p.245).
One of the most demanding challenge to be met by systems science, is to produce generic models which can in turn be used as matrixes of concrete models for practical applications.
ARACIL's generalization of FORRESTER's systems dynamics by use of attractors in order to generate qualitative bifurcations in the modeling process is certainly an important step toward this goal.