Simple models and understanding in science

Abstract

Most scientific models are idealised and simplified representations of their targets at least to some extent, but some models are very simple and or highly idealised. Yet these simple models are often claimed to help scientists to understand the world of their scientific theories. How simple models might do this is the focus of this thesis. I will first give an overview of different types of simple models. Next, I will discuss on the notion of understanding as is appropriate to this project. Then I will present and consider several different ways simple models are claimed to help scientists understand, including by providing explanations of various sorts and by elucidating concepts.