Scientific models: meaning and role in scientific practice

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to a better understanding of the scientific models as a key component of the nature of science. For this, firstly the epistemological meaning of the scientific models and their role in the scientific practice are discussed. Secondly the function of the scientific models as intermediaries or mediators between theory and real world is addressed. This function is based on the partially autonomic character of the scientific models with regard to the latter. In order to illustrate the exposition of it various examples are included. The article concludes with a brief reference to both the semanticist and instrumentalist epistemological conceptions regarding the models, which run parallel with the classical debate between realism and pragmatism around the interpretation of scientific theories.

Keywords

• modelos científicos
• modelización
• práctica de la ciencia
• semanticismo
• instrumentalismo