Faculty Publication: Assistant Professor of Philosophy Collin Rice

Universality and Modeling Limiting Behaviors

Author: Collin Rice

Source: Philosophy of Science, 2020, 87:5, 829-840.

Publication type: Article

Abstract: Most attempts to justify the use of idealized models to explain appeal to the accuracy of the model with respect to difference-making causes. In this article, I argue for an alternative way to justify using idealized models to explain that appeals to universality classes. In support of this view, I show that scientific modelers seeking to explain stable limiting behaviors often explicitly appeal to universality classes in order to justify their use of idealized models to explain.