Models:
“Norbert Wiener is quoted as saying:
“The best material model of a cat is another, or preferably the same, cat.” I disagree: a cat is no easier to handle than itself, and thus not a useful model.
Model and world must differ. Faithfulness is not sufficient.
There are several corollaries. Every model is “false” in that it cannot match reality in all respects (Hebb 1959).
Mismatch being allowed, multiple models may usefully serve a common reality. “
-Alain de Cheveigne, Pitch Perception Models
———————-
It’s to do with the value of metaphor. Even bad metaphors are useful if they’re useful until something better comes along.
—————————
Math is a model, a metaphor. Where’s the x? What’s the x?
—-
OH SUPERIMPOSITION WORKS IN A LINEAR MODEL BECAUSE HARMONICS AND SUBHARMONICS ARE IN SYNC WITH THE FUNDAMENTAL.. Duh. Ok ok. ok.
—
Indeed .Models teach and to teach, features need to be salient. If it’s cat, then it’s cat. What’s important about that? Need a model which simplifies and emphasises.
—