The philosophy of science and validation in simulation

More than twenty-five years ago, Naylor and Finger suggested that the problem of validation in simulation was analogous to the problem of validating scientific theories in general. They went on to prescribe an eclectic approach to validation in simulation that they put together from what they viewed at the time as an exhaustive description of the possible philosophical alternatives. A considerable development has taken place in the philosophy of science since Naylor and Finger wrote their paper. Most notably the justificationist positions in the philosophy of science that Naylor and Finger appealed to have been largely discredited. We attempt here to provide a new examination of the various relevant positions. And we also attempt to show in one way or another how these positions provide additional perspectives on overcoming some of the conceptual difficulties involved in simulation validation.

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