Scientific modelling with diagrams

Ulrich E Stegmann

doi:10.1007/s11229-019-02239-0

Scientific modelling with diagrams

Ulrich E Stegmann (Corresponding Author)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Diagrams can serve as representational models in scientific research, yet important questions remain about how they do so. I address some of these questions with a historical case study, in which diagrams were modified extensively in order to elaborate an early hypothesis of protein synthesis. The diagrams’ modelling role relied mainly on two features: diagrams were modified according to syntactic rules, which temporarily replaced physico-chemical reasoning, and diagram-to-target inferences were based on semantic interpretations. I then explore the lessons for the relative roles of syntax, semantics, external marks, and mental images, for justifying diagram-to-target inferences, and for the “artefactual approach” to scientific models.

Original language	English
Journal	Synthese
Early online date	13 May 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-019-02239-0
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 13 May 2019

Keywords

Representational models
Mental images
Notation
Mechanism
Physical models
Syntactic symbol manipulation
George Gamow
Francis Crick
Protein synthesis

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Ulrich Stegmann
- School of Divinity, History & Philosophy, Philosophy - Reader
- Philosophy (Research Theme)
Person: Academic

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title = "Scientific modelling with diagrams",

abstract = "Diagrams can serve as representational models in scientific research, yet important questions remain about how they do so. I address some of these questions with a historical case study, in which diagrams were modified extensively in order to elaborate an early hypothesis of protein synthesis. The diagrams{\textquoteright} modelling role relied mainly on two features: diagrams were modified according to syntactic rules, which temporarily replaced physico-chemical reasoning, and diagram-to-target inferences were based on semantic interpretations. I then explore the lessons for the relative roles of syntax, semantics, external marks, and mental images, for justifying diagram-to-target inferences, and for the “artefactual approach” to scientific models.",

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note = "Open Access under Springer Compact Agreement An earlier version of this paper was presented at two workshops in 2016 (“Many Methods, One Biology?”, Munich, and “Representing Scientific Results”, Kassel). I thank participants for stimulating discussions. Special thanks to Christian Joas, Tilmann Massey, Robert Meunier, K{\"a}rin Nickelsen, and Raphael Scholl. I would also like to acknowledge the helpful comments by three anonymous reviewers. Springer/Nature and Elsevier granted permissions to reproduce copyrighted material.",

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Scientific modelling with diagrams

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Keywords

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Ulrich Stegmann

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