Model Characteristics as a Means of Knowledge in Humanitarian Field

Abstract

Some features of modelling in the humanitarian field are considered, which can be used for pedagogical modelling. Universality of modelling as a research method for different areas of knowledge is emphasised. The questions are raised about the relationship between the categories of model, prototype and image in the process of reflection of reality. The relationship between a model and material and non-material types of prototype are examined. Special attention is paid to the prototype as a mental model containing key and peripheral characteristics of displayed object and being an important link in the realization of subject-object relationships in the modelling process. Traditional definitions of the term “model” are given, that emphasize its characteristic properties. A review of the methodological provisions of the modelling related to the theory of knowledge and the theory of similarity is made. The author dwells on the concepts of analogy, emphasizing the importance of the degree of analogy for modelling, isomorphism and homomorphism, generalization and abstraction. As a result, the author proposes a revised definition of model, based on the notion of mental prototypical model. Attention is paid to the stages of model building to reveal the algorithm. The work summarizes and formulates characteristics of a model as a means of scientific cognition: imagery, abstraction, simplification, having parameters, consistency, subject-object relationship, informativeness.

Keywords

• prototype
• model
• formalisation
• similarity
• analogy
• isomorphism and homomorphism
• abstraction
• characteristics of the model