Agent-Based Modeling’s Open Methodology Approach: Simulation, Reflexivity, and Abduction
This paper argues that agent-based modeling’s innovations in method developed in terms of simulation techniques also involve an improvement in economic methodology. It shows how Epstein’s generative science conception can be seen as departing from conventional methodological reasoning, and employs w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Association Œconomia
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Œconomia |
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| Online Access: | http://journals.openedition.org/oeconomia/4402 |
| _version_ | 1819091883303895040 |
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| author | John B. Davis |
| author_facet | John B. Davis |
| author_sort | John B. Davis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper argues that agent-based modeling’s innovations in method developed in terms of simulation techniques also involve an improvement in economic methodology. It shows how Epstein’s generative science conception can be seen as departing from conventional methodological reasoning, and employs what I term an ‘open’ rather than ‘closed’ approach to economic methodology associated with the roles that reflexivity, counterfactual reasoning, and abduction play in ABM. Central to this idea is that improvements in how we know something, a matter of method, lead to improvements in whether we know something, a matter of methodology. The paper proposes an alternative view of economics and economic methodology employing a social science model of economics and contrasts this with standard economics’ traditional natural science model of economics. The paper discusses what this methodological understanding implies about the concept of emergence. The paper is intended to stimulate debate among ABM researchers regarding fundamental epistemological and ontological issues underlying simulation associated with the open-closed distinction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T22:46:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-13fd01e9eac240a08faa9a3b6d9c17a5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2113-5207 2269-8450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T22:46:48Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | Association Œconomia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Œconomia |
| spelling | doaj.art-13fd01e9eac240a08faa9a3b6d9c17a52022-12-21T18:47:41ZengAssociation ŒconomiaŒconomia2113-52072269-84502018-12-018450952910.4000/oeconomia.4402Agent-Based Modeling’s Open Methodology Approach: Simulation, Reflexivity, and AbductionJohn B. DavisThis paper argues that agent-based modeling’s innovations in method developed in terms of simulation techniques also involve an improvement in economic methodology. It shows how Epstein’s generative science conception can be seen as departing from conventional methodological reasoning, and employs what I term an ‘open’ rather than ‘closed’ approach to economic methodology associated with the roles that reflexivity, counterfactual reasoning, and abduction play in ABM. Central to this idea is that improvements in how we know something, a matter of method, lead to improvements in whether we know something, a matter of methodology. The paper proposes an alternative view of economics and economic methodology employing a social science model of economics and contrasts this with standard economics’ traditional natural science model of economics. The paper discusses what this methodological understanding implies about the concept of emergence. The paper is intended to stimulate debate among ABM researchers regarding fundamental epistemological and ontological issues underlying simulation associated with the open-closed distinction.http://journals.openedition.org/oeconomia/4402agent-based modelingsimulationgenerative sciencereflexivityabductionsocial science model of economics |
| spellingShingle | John B. Davis Agent-Based Modeling’s Open Methodology Approach: Simulation, Reflexivity, and Abduction Œconomia agent-based modeling simulation generative science reflexivity abduction social science model of economics |
| title | Agent-Based Modeling’s Open Methodology Approach: Simulation, Reflexivity, and Abduction |
| title_full | Agent-Based Modeling’s Open Methodology Approach: Simulation, Reflexivity, and Abduction |
| title_fullStr | Agent-Based Modeling’s Open Methodology Approach: Simulation, Reflexivity, and Abduction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Agent-Based Modeling’s Open Methodology Approach: Simulation, Reflexivity, and Abduction |
| title_short | Agent-Based Modeling’s Open Methodology Approach: Simulation, Reflexivity, and Abduction |
| title_sort | agent based modeling s open methodology approach simulation reflexivity and abduction |
| topic | agent-based modeling simulation generative science reflexivity abduction social science model of economics |
| url | http://journals.openedition.org/oeconomia/4402 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johnbdavis agentbasedmodelingsopenmethodologyapproachsimulationreflexivityandabduction |