Epistemological problems in subcellular biology: observations, mathematical models and computer simulations Cover Image

Epistemologiczne problemy w biologii subkomórkowej: obserwacje, modele matematyczne i symulacje komputerowe
Epistemological problems in subcellular biology: observations, mathematical models and computer simulations

Author(s): Andrzej Bielecki
Subject(s): Epistemology, Philosophy of Science, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Papieskiego Jana Pawła II w Krakowie
Keywords: experiment; observation; theory; model; numerical simulations; subcellular biology;

Summary/Abstract: Relations between theory and empirical knowledge belong to basic problems in philosophy of science and have been undergone detailed philosophical reflection, including epistemological aspects. During last several dozen years, due to development of computer technology, numerical simulations became a common tool in natural sciences. Their epistemological aspects, however, have not worked out yet. A specific role of computer simulations manifests in subcellular biology, where possibilities of performing experiments and observations are limited. Computer simulation is complementary to observation and experiment and comes into complex relations with them. It allows us to come to a conclusion if experiment or observations are impossible to perform. In particular, simulations allow researchers to estimate the parameters that cannot be measured.

  • Issue Year: 1/2017
  • Issue No: 16
  • Page Range: 10-23
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Polish