Peer-reviewed articles by Juan M Durán
Minds and Machines, 2020
Many philosophical accounts of scientific models fail to distinguish between a simulation model a... more Many philosophical accounts of scientific models fail to distinguish between a simulation model and other forms of models. This failure is unfortunate because there are important differences pertaining to their methodology and epistemology that favor their philosophical understanding. The core claim presented here is that simulation models are rich and complex units of analysis in their own right, that they depart from known forms of scientific models in significant ways, and that a proper understanding of the type of model simulations are fundamental for their philosophical assessment. I argue that simulation models can be distinguished from other forms of models by the many algorithmic structures, representation relations, and new semantic connections involved in their architecture. In this article, I reconstruct a general architecture for a simulation model, one that faithfully captures the complexities involved in most scientific research with computer simulations. Furthermore , I submit that a new methodology capable of conforming such architecture into a fully functional, computationally tractable computer simulation must be in place. I discuss this methodology-what I call recasting-and argue for its philosophical novelty. If these efforts are heading towards the right interpretation of simulation models, then one can show that computer simulations shed new light on the philosophy of science. To illustrate the potential of my interpretation of simulation models , I briefly discuss simulation-based explanations as a novel approach to questions about scientific explanation.
Philosophy & Technology, 2019
A chronicled approach to the notion of computer simulations shows that there are two predominant ... more A chronicled approach to the notion of computer simulations shows that there are two predominant interpretations in the specialized literature. According to the first interpretation, computer simulations are techniques for finding the set of solutions to a mathematical model. I call this first interpretation the problem-solving technique viewpoint (PST). In its second interpretation, computer simulations are considered to describe patterns of behavior of a target system. I call this second interpretation the description of patterns of behavior viewpoint of computer simulations (DPB). This article explores these two interpretations of computer simulations from three different angles. First, I collect a series of definitions of computer simulation from the historical record. I track back definitions to the early 1960s and show how each viewpoint shares similar interpretations of computer simulations-ultimately clustering into the two viewpoints aforementioned. This reconstruction also includes the most recent literature. Second, I unpack the philosophical assumptions behind each viewpoint, with a special emphasis on their differences. Third, I discuss the philosophical implications of each viewpoint in the context of the recent discussion on the logic of scientific explanation for computer simulations.
Philosophy and Technology, 2019
Many studies in Big Data focus on the uses of data available to researchers, leaving without trea... more Many studies in Big Data focus on the uses of data available to researchers, leaving without treatment data that is on the servers but of which researchers are unaware. We call this dark data, and in this article we present and discuss it in the context of high performance computing (HPC) facilities. To this end, we provide statistics of a major HPC facility in Europe, the High-Performance Computing Center Stuttgart (HLRS). We also propose a new position tailor-made for coping with dark data and general data management. We call it the Scientific Data Officer (SDO) and we distinguish it from other standard positions in HPC facilities such as Chief Data Officers, system administrators, Security Officers, among others. In order to understand the role of the SDO in HPC facilities, we discuss two kinds of responsibilities, namely, technical responsibilities and ethical responsibilities. While the former is intended to characterize the position, the latter raise concerns-and proposes solutions-to the control and authority that the SDO would acquire.
Minds and Machines, 2018
Several philosophical issues in connection with computer simulations rely on the assumption that ... more Several philosophical issues in connection with computer simulations rely on the assumption that results of simulations are trustworthy. Examples of these include the debate on the experimental role of computer simulations [Parker, 2009, Morrison, 2009], the nature of computer data [Barberousse and Vorms, 2013, Humphreys, 2013], and the explanatory power of computer simulations [Krohs, 2008, Durán, 2017]. The aim of this article is to show that these authors are right in assuming that the results of computer simulations are to be trusted when computer simulations are reliable processes. After a short reconstruction of the problem of epistemic opacity, the article elaborates extensively on computational reliabilism, a specified form of process reliabilism with computer simulations located at the center. The article ends with a discussion of four sources for computational reliabilism, namely, verification and validation, robustness analysis for computer simulations, a history of (un)successful implementations, and the role of expert knowledge in simulations.
Una imagen muy generalizada a la hora de entender el software de com- putador es la que lo repres... more Una imagen muy generalizada a la hora de entender el software de com- putador es la que lo representa como una “caja negra”: no importa realmente saber qu ́e partes lo componen internamente, sino qu ́e resultados se obtienen de ́el segu ́n ciertos valores de entrada. Al hacer esto, muchos problemas filos ́oficos son ocultados, negados o simplemente mal entendidos. Este art ́ıculo discute tres unidades de an ́alisis del software de computador, esto es, las especifica- ciones, los algoritmos y los procesos computacionales. El objetivo central es entender las pr ́acticas cient ́ıficas e ingenieriles detr ́as de cada unidad de soft- ware, as ́ı como analizar su metodolog ́ıa, ontolog ́ıa y epistemolog ́ıa.
This article aims to develop a new account of scientific explanation for computer simulations. To... more This article aims to develop a new account of scientific explanation for computer simulations. To this end, two questions are answered: what is the explanatory relation for computer simulations? and what kind of epistemic gain should be expected? For several reasons tailored to the benefits and needs of computer simulations, these questions are better answered within the unificationist model of scientific explanation. Unlike previous efforts in the literature, I submit that the explanatory relation is between the simulation model and the results of the simulation. I also argue that our epistemic gain goes beyond the unificationist account, encompassing a practical dimension as well.
En este trabajo propongo un análisis de dos posiciones antagónicas sobre la noción de simulación ... more En este trabajo propongo un análisis de dos posiciones antagónicas sobre la noción de simulación computacional. La primera, proveniente de Stephan Hartmann, ha sido bienvenida por filósofos que entienden que las simulaciones computacionales pueden ser entendidas desde la perspectiva de una filosof ́ıa familiar, ya sea desde la filosofía de los modelos científicos como la filosofía de la experimentación. La segunda posición, perteneciente a Paul Humphreys, entiende que las simulaciones son objetos de interés filosófico genuino en sí mismo, y que entender su naturaleza permite comprender su rol en la práctica científica actual. Mi análisis se extiende a elaborar en críticas a ambas partes.
En este trabajo presento algunos argumentos para sostener que la creencia religiosa es un lenguaj... more En este trabajo presento algunos argumentos para sostener que la creencia religiosa es un lenguaje distinto al de la ciencia. Para esto hago uso de los trabajos de Wittgenstein sobre 'juegos de lenguaje' y creencia religiosa. Sostengo que a pesar de que se haga un uso de términos sintácticamente idéntico, la dimensión pragmática de dichos términos es la que determina en qué juego de lenguaje se está. Conclu-yo mostrando un caso donde se hace un uso inadecuado del lenguaje de un sistema y que se aplica a otro sistema.
We argue that there is no tension between Reid’s description of science and his claim that scienc... more We argue that there is no tension between Reid’s description of science and his claim that science is based on the principles of common sense. For Reid, science is rooted in common sense since it is based on the (common sense) idea that fixed laws govern nature. This, however, does not contradict his view that the scientific notions of causation and explanation are fundamentally different from their common sense counterparts. After discussing these points, we dispute with Cobb’s (Cobb 2010) and Benbaji’s (Benbaji 2003) interpretations of Reid’s views on causation and explanation. Finally, we present Reid’s views from the perspective of the contemporary debate on scientific explanation.
El uso masivo y ubicuo de simulaciones computacionales en la práctica científica actual hace que ... more El uso masivo y ubicuo de simulaciones computacionales en la práctica científica actual hace que su estudio filosófico cobre centralidad para la comprensión general de estos métodos. En este trabajo analizo el modo en que el concepto de simulación computacional ha tenido tratamiento en la literatura filosófica contemporánea. Concretamente, analizo tres conceptualizaciones de simulación computacional que han servido de base fundante para toda la literatura posterior. Muestro, asimismo, cuáles son las dificultades que estas conceptualizaciones deben afrontar. Finalmente presento críticas que, a mi ver, resultan insalvables y que sugieren un cambio en el modo de conceptualizar simulaciones computacionales.
Forthcoming in Argumentos de Razón Técnica
Chapter of books by Juan M Durán
Forthcoming for the book "The Technological Singularity: A Pragmatic Perspective" Amnon Eden, Vic... more Forthcoming for the book "The Technological Singularity: A Pragmatic Perspective" Amnon Eden, Vic Callaghan, James Miller (eds.) Springer
Durán J. M. and Arnold, E. (eds), Computer Simulations and the Changing: Face of Scientific Experimentation, Cambridge Scholars Publishing., 2013
Letzen, D.; Lodeyro, P. (eds), Epistemología e Historia de la Ciencia: Selección de Trabajos de las XIX Jornadas, Vol. 15, pp 171-177, Editorial Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. , 2009
García, P.; Massolo, A. (eds), Epistemología e Historia de la Ciencia: Selección de Trabajos de las XX Jornadas, pp. 204-210. Editorial Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina., 2010
Torrano, A.; Passos Videira, A. (eds), Representación en Ciencia y Arte, Vol. 3, pp. 73-82, Editorial Brujas, Argentina., 2011
Vallverdú, J. (ed), Thinking Machines and the Philosophy of Computer Science: Concepts and Principles, pp. 294-311, Editorial IGI Global., 2010
Books and editions by Juan M Durán
The ubiquitous presence of computer simulations in all kinds of research areas evidence their rol... more The ubiquitous presence of computer simulations in all kinds of research areas evidence their role as the new driving force for the advancement of science and engineering research. Nothing seems to escape the image of success that computer simulations project onto the research community and the general public. One simple way to illustrate this consists in asking ourselves how would contemporary science and engineering look like without the use of computer simulations. The answer would certainly diverge from the current image we have of scientific and engineering research.
PhD Dissertation
Published by the University of Stuttgart (see link for references)
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Peer-reviewed articles by Juan M Durán
Chapter of books by Juan M Durán
Books and editions by Juan M Durán
This book has been conceived for a broad audience, from scientists and engineers, policy makers and politicians, to the general public. It welcomes anyone interested in questions -- and conceivable answers -- to the general practice of computer simulations. Although the book is written in a philosophical tone, it does not engage in deep philosophical discussions. Rather, the book seeks to explore technical aspects of computer simulations as well as the philosophical issues emerging from there.
Apologies to the reader, but the text has not been proofread yet.