The interplay between models and observations

We propose a formal framework to examine the relationship between models and observations. To make our analysis precise, models are reduced to first-order theories that represent both terminological knowledge - e.g., the laws that are supposed to regulate the domain under analysis and that allow for explanations, predictions, and simulations - and assertional knowledge - e.g., information about specific entities in the domain of interest. Observations are introduced into the domain of quantification of a distinct first-order theory that describes their nature and their organization and takes track of the way they are experimentally acquired or intentionally elaborated. A model mainly represents the theoretical knowledge or hypotheses on a domain, while the theory of observations mainly represents the empirical knowledge and the given experimental practices. We propose a precise identity criterion for observations and we explore different links between models and observations by assuming a degree of independence between them. By exploiting some techniques developed in the field of social choice theory and judgment aggregation, we sketch some strategies to solve inconsistencies between a given set of observations and the assumed theoretical hypotheses. The solutions of these inconsistencies can impact both the observations - e.g., the theoretical knowledge and the analysis of the way observations are collected or produced may highlight some unreliable sources - and the models - e.g., empirical evidences may invalidate some theoretical laws.

Tipo Pubblicazione: 
Articolo
Author or Creator: 
Masolo, Claudio
Benevides, Alessander Botti
Porello, Daniele
Publisher: 
IOS Press, Washington, DC , Paesi Bassi
Source: 
Applied ontology 13 (2018): 41–71. doi:10.3233/AO-180193
info:cnr-pdr/source/autori:Masolo, Claudio; Benevides, Alessander Botti; Porello, Daniele/titolo:The interplay between models and observations/doi:10.3233/AO-180193/rivista:Applied ontology/anno:2018/pagina_da:41/pagina_a:71/intervallo_pagine:41–71/volume
Date: 
2018
Resource Identifier: 
http://www.cnr.it/prodotto/i/401597
https://dx.doi.org/10.3233/AO-180193
info:doi:10.3233/AO-180193
Language: 
Eng
ISTC Author: 
Ritratto di Claudio Masolo
Real name: 
Ritratto di Daniele Porello
Real name: