MODEL MAKING
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 2163 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Epistemology, ontology or semantics, Methodology or model |
Model making is possibly the most universal and basic mental activity of all people. Even superior animals probably elaborate some types of models of their environment .
We absolutely need models for our general orientation in life and as a bedrock for behavior.
They seem in fact indispensable for our very survival .
However a serious reflection about our ways to elaborate models, and even what we mean exactly by “ model” is a very recent development. Still now most people make models in a quite naive way.
This is so because scientifically based models need considerable abstract knowledge , a fact that would block that basic activity for most people and put them at a loss, or even in danger.
However naive model making frequently leads to dramatically negative results for communities as well as for individuals.
A better understanding of our model making ability (or incompetence) is one of the most important result of various developments in cybernetics and systemics, among them:
- Autopoiesis (MATURANA y VARELA)
- 2nd Order cybernetics (von FOERSTER)
- Constructivism (von GLASERSFELD)
- Generic Design (WARFIELD)
- Co-participative Design (BANATHY)
- Genetic psychology (PIAGET)
- Gestalt psychology (WERTHEIMER, KÖHLER and KOFFKA)
- Metamodeling (van GIGCH)
- Operational research (BLACKETT, ACKOFF)
- Systems dynamics (FORRESTER)
and of course a wide variety of more limited and specific techniques that have also been proposed (See the corresponding entries)