Article
ID: CBB001420759

Autonomous Mathematical Models: Constructing Theories of Metabolic Control (2013)

unapi
Mathematics and its relationship to nature Biology Metabolism; physiological chemistry Models and modeling in science Theory (philosophy) 20th century

This paper considers how the relationship between mathematical models and theories in biology may change over time, on the basis of a historical analysis of the development of a mathematical model of metabolism, metabolic control analysis, and its relationship to theories of metabolic control. I argue that one can distinguish two ways of characterising the relationship between models and theories, depending on the stage of model and/or theory development that one is considering: partial independence and autonomy. Partial independence describes a model's relationship with existing theory, thus referring to relationships that have already been established between model and theory during model construction. By contrast, autonomy is a feature of relationships which may become established between model and theory in the future, and is expressed by a model's open ended role in constructing emerging theory. These characteristics have often been conflated by existing philosophical accounts, partly because they can only be identified and analysed when adopting a historical perspective on scientific research. Adopting a clear distinction between partial independence and autonomy improves philosophical insight into the changing relationship between models and theories.

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Authors & Contributors
Currie, Adrian
Barwich, Ann-Sophie
Skyrms, Brian
Scholthof, Karen-Beth G.
Regt, Henk W. de
Prebble, John N.
Journals
Journal of the History of Biology
History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences
Cahiers de recherches médiévales et humanistes. Journal of medieval and humanistic studies
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
Science in Context
Publishers
University of Exeter (United Kingdom)
University of Pittsburgh Press
University of Exeter
University of Chicago Press
Oxford University Press
Taylor & Francis
Concepts
Models and modeling in science
Biology
Mathematics and its relationship to nature
Philosophy of science
Metabolism; physiological chemistry
Theory (philosophy)
People
John of Murs
Sutherland, Earl W.
Meyerhof, Otto
Time Periods
20th century
21st century
19th century
Medieval
20th century, late
Places
Germany
Great Britain
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