Introduction

This Element presents a philosophical exploration of the notion of scientific representation. It does so by focusing on an important class of scientific representations, namely scientific models. Models are important in the scientific process because scientists can study a model to discover features of reality.

The Question of Representation

But what does it mean for something to represent something else? This is the question discussed in this Element. The authors begin by disentangling different aspects of the problem of representation and then discuss the dominant accounts in the philosophical literature: the resemblance view and inferentialism.

Critique of Existing Accounts

They find them both wanting and submit that their own preferred option, the so-called DEKI account, not only eschews the problems that beset these conceptions, but further provides a comprehensive answer to the question of how scientific representation works.

Additional Information

This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.