Termen F&T omgekeerd

Question 1

Emergent behaviour

Answer 1

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

Question 2

(Un)limited games

Answer 2

In limited games it’s always rational to cheat in the last round while in unlimited games you don’t know when the last round is and you always have to take into account that the other party can respond to your decision.

Question 3

Agent-based modelling

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Agents

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Iterations

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Variables

Answer 6

Properties of the agents that influence their behaviour.

Question 7

Cellular automaton

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Reductionism

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Ockham’s Razor

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Demarcation

Answer 10

Distinguishing science from pseudo-science

Question 11

Verification

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Falsification

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Empirical

Answer 13

Observable facts

Question 14

Empirical cycle

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Induction problem

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Game theory

Answer 16

A model which analyzes the decision making process of people.

Question 17

Rational agents

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Tit-for-Tat / Copycat

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Two Dogmas of Empiricism(false according to Quine)

Answer 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.

Question 20

Language and empirical reality

Answer 20

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.