Bortom spegeln : Integrering av idealisering i det epistemiska värdet av vetenskapliga modeller

This thesis challenges the traditional view that scientific models derive their epistemic value from representational accuracy. I argue instead that models should be evaluated by their practical utility—specifically, their effectiveness in addressing the scientific questions that drive their construction. Through a critical analysis of representationalism, artifactualism, and complementary constructivism, I develop a normative framework that foregrounds the scientist’s creative engagement and underscores the role of idealisation in model construction. This approach shifts the focus from mirroring reality to approaching models as purpose-driven epistemic tools. By doing so, the thesis not only reconciles philosophical theory with scientific practice but also provides a more robust account of how models generate knowledge. Ultimately, this normative reorientation opens new avenues for integrated ontological and methodological analyses of scientific modeling.