Knowledge and reality: some conceptual issues in system dynamics modeling

This paper provides a number of epistemological and methodological reflections on modeling and simulation through system dynamics and the special type of knowledge provided by system dynamics models. Our principal concern will be to analyze the sense in which system dynamics models endeavour to grasp or represent relevant aspects of reality. Two main perspectives have tended to be advanced with regard to this topic: the naive realism linked to philosophies of science, such as those