All models are wrong, some models are useful

re: All models are wrong, some models are useful

Max — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 23:21:10 GMT

I’m not sure if I agree that all models are wrong. A model is an abstraction in the sense that it doesn’t have all the details, but it doesn’t necessary make it wrong.

We abstract away irrelevant details on purpose - to manage complexity of the problem we are trying to solve. Whatever is true about the abstraction must be also true about any instance it represents.

Of course there is a danger of abstracting relevant to the problem details – in this case the model won’t represent the real problem, and as a result solution based on that model will be wrong.

re: All models are wrong, some models are useful

Alik Levin — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:11:13 GMT

" All generalizations are false, including this one." - Mark Twain

BTW, "models" quote you used in the beginning is just my mantra for life.

cool

alikl

re: All models are wrong, some models are useful

Philip Best — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:09:34 GMT

I'm pretty sure that saying originates in economics. Regardless, it accentuates the reality of our increasing digital world that most "things" we now create are drastic approximations of reality and scepticism/critical thinking are a necessity.