Model Based Reasoning

The 21 papers explore how scientific thinking uses models and explanatory reasoning to produce creative changes in theories and concepts. Some contributors discuss theoretical issues from perspectives of philosophy and psychology; others describe applications in various fields, including architecture, public policy, and the ethics of science and technology. Among the topics are how Johannes Kepler used analogy in scientific discovery, the calibration of models in experiments, developing scientific taxonomies, models as parts of distributed cognitive systems, and Michael Faraday's search for the optical effects of gold. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR