Simulation and complexity - how they can relate
Bruce Edmonds · 2005
When faced with some complex phenomena for which we can see no adequate analytic approach, it is easy to produce a simulation model, play with it and feel that we have gained some purchase on it. However simulation models can often give the illusion of progress and understanding due to the persuasive nature. A key question is thus to what extent this is real progress and understanding and how much sophisticated (if unintended) deception, i.e. "Do simulation models really help us understand complex phenomena?" Equation-based and statistical modelling have a relatively long history and are relatively well developed. Simulation modelling has a much shorter history and its methodology is less well developed. In many (but not all) fields academics are still feeling their way as to how and when to use simulation modelling. Further, just as there are many branches of mathematics, there are many kinds of simulation modelling. Within each domain it takes time to develop ways in w