Termen F&T

Question 1

The effect that arises from the collective behaviour of the individual agents.

Answer 1

Emergent behaviour

Question 2

A model in which simple behaviour of agents (individuals) leads to complex emergent behaviour (group behaviour)
The agents react to their environment by executing one or a few simple rules.

Answer 2

Agent-based modelling

Question 3

The individuals in the model that can behave in a certain manner.

Answer 3

Agents

Question 4

Repetitions in the model in which agents can make a new choice on the basis of the new situation.

Answer 4

Iterations

Question 5

Properties of the agents that influence their behaviour.

Answer 5

Variables

Question 6

A model in which cells change on the basis of the status of the cells surrounding them

Answer 6

Cellular automaton

Question 7

Brining the observable world back to the most simple facts you need for your research

Answer 7

Reductionism

Question 8

When you have competing hypotheses you should pick the one which requires the least amount of assumptions.

Answer 8

Ockham’s Razor

Question 9

Distinguishing science from pseudo-science

Answer 9

Demarcation

Question 10

A scientific theory should produce verifiable statements. This means you should be able to observe these statements in real life / nature.

Answer 10

Verification

Question 11

A theory should produce falsifiable statements, preferably through risky predictions. Statements should potentially be falsifiable through an empirical counter example of your hypothesis

Answer 11

Falsification

Question 12

Observable facts

Answer 12

Empirical

Question 13

You start by observing phenomena. If you see a pattern in your observations you form a law on the basis of these observations. This is called induction. A group of coherent laws form a theory. From the theory you can deduct hypotheses. You try to find confirmation for these hypotheses through observation. Which brings you back to where you started.

Answer 13

Empirical cycle

Question 14

How can you form general statements on the basis of specific observations? Or to put it simply, how many times do you have to see the sun rise in the morning, before you can justifiably utter the general statement: The sun rises in the morning.

Answer 14

Induction problem

Question 15

A model which analyzes the decision making process of people.

Answer 15

Game theory

Question 16

In Game Theory people are assumed to be rational agents. Meaning that they try to maximize their self-interest in every game.

Answer 16

Rational agents

Question 17

A successful strategy in Game Theory which tells you to (1) start with cooperation, (2) cheat if the other party cheated in the previous iteration, (3) cooperate if a former cheater shows willingness to cooperate.

Answer 17

Tit-for-Tat / Copycat

Question 18

Because the two dogmas of empiricism are false according to Quine, language no longer has a clear one-on-one link with objects in the real world. Instead he proposes that language is more like a web (or network) which only touches the edges of empirical reality. This means that words are interconnected and together these words shape the way we view empirical reality. A set of words can be more or less successful in describing this reality. The success of the language can be tested through scientific experiments.

Answer 18

Language and empirical reality

Question 19

The first dogma being the thought that language is fixed and unchangeable and clearly linked to the observable world.
The second dogma is the thought that we can distinguish the observable world from our thoughts and reduce reality to single observable entities.

Answer 19

Two Dogmas of Empiricism(false according to Quine)

Question 20

A model in which simple behaviour of agents (individuals) leads to complex emergent behaviour (group behaviour)
The agents react to their environment by executing one or a few simple rules.

Answer 20

Agent-based modelling