Scientific research is characterized by strong disciplinary specialization that often manifests in highly abstract models tailored to particular target systems. At the same time, a salient feature of contemporary science is that there is increasing interaction across different fields. One way this interaction manifests is in the transfer of models. Beyond their relevance to scientific practice, such model transfers play a crucial role because they can act as catalysts for the advancement of science. As such, they raise core philosophical questions such as why models are transferable across domains, how they can address fundamentally distinct problems, and how they contribute to scientific progress.
Despite an increasing interest among historians and philosophers of science in the phenomenon, model transfer has not yet received its due attention. This project will therefore undertake a comprehensive philosophical investigation of model transfer, its challenges, and its implications for scientific progress in order to place this practice at the center of the agenda in philosophy and history of scientific modeling. We do so by combining approaches from philosophy and history of science with computational methods that are themselves new to philosophy. For our case studies, we focus primarily on economics.
We study model transfer on three levels:
Methodological and conceptual tools (SP1): Current studies of model transfer rely primarily on the case study methodology, which faces limitations like selection bias and underdetermination. We overcome these limitations by substantiating systematic analysis with a combination of detailed historical research and quantitative-empirical mappings and visualizations of model transfer processes. We will also critically reflect on this integrative methodology to better understand the potentials and limitations of our approach for philosophy of science generally.
Philosophical investigation (SP2): Current literature focuses on why models are transferable, emphasizing template-based approaches. While those approaches serve as an ideal starting point for thinking about model transfer, they require more elaboration to serve as the basis for a comprehensive philosophical investigation of model transfer, its challenges, and its relationship to scientific progress. Furthermore, there is no consensus on what exactly is transferred or what features enable transfer. Additionally, the modification of models during transfer and their impact on theoretical frameworks require clarification. Finally, there are no comprehensive analyses of the obstacles to transfer, such as structural differences between source and target domains and resistance to transfer due to methodological or epistemological commitments. Our team addresses all of these issues.
Relation to scientific progress (SP3): While model transfer is acknowledged as significant, its precise role in enabling progress remains unclear. The project systematically analyzes not only the epistemic benefits of model transfer in specific cases but the more general consequences for a domain, particularly in the context of model-based disciplines like economics.
