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3 - Models as metaphors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2009

Jerry Ravetz
Affiliation:
Reader in the History and Philosophy of Science University of Leeds, England
Bernd Kasemir
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Massachusetts
Jill Jäger
Affiliation:
International Human Dimensions Programme, Bonn
Carlo C. Jaeger
Affiliation:
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Matthew T. Gardner
Affiliation:
Biogen Inc.
William C. Clark
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Massachusetts
Alexander Wokaun
Affiliation:
Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
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Summary

Introduction

This chapter discusses philosophical reflections on the intellectual adventure of conducting Integrated Assessment (IA) Focus Groups with citizens, as presented in this volume. The task of this exercise was ambitious: to bridge the gap between sustainability science and democratic debate in the climate domain. The science component was mainly represented by models, most (although not all) having the appearance of describing future states of the global climate and their consequences for human society. At first it could seem a daunting, indeed, overwhelming task: it was hard to see how lay participants could meaningfully relate to models whose construction required very special expertise in mathematics and software engineering; and whose comprehension required knowledge of climate science. But having witnessed the debates among the modelers themselves, the research team already knew that IA models are quite problematic products of science. It is freely accepted, even emphasized, among the experts that the models do not provide simple predictions; and so their epistemic status and policy relevance were already open to question. In addition, there was the knowledge that experts are usually “laypersons” outside their specialties, and that policy-makers are generally no more knowledgeable than ordinary citizens. And, in any event, the democratic process involves debate over issues where both expert and lay voices are heard. Hence the IA models were an appropriate vehicle for developing a many-sided dialogue on basic issues.

In the event, the involvement of this “extended peer community” proved far less difficult than anticipated.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2003

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  • Models as metaphors
    • By Jerry Ravetz, Reader in the History and Philosophy of Science University of Leeds, England
  • Edited by Bernd Kasemir, Harvard University, Massachusetts, Jill Jäger, International Human Dimensions Programme, Bonn, Carlo C. Jaeger, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Matthew T. Gardner, Biogen Inc.
  • Foreword by William C. Clark, Harvard University, Massachusetts, Alexander Wokaun, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
  • Book: Public Participation in Sustainability Science
  • Online publication: 22 September 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511490972.007
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  • Models as metaphors
    • By Jerry Ravetz, Reader in the History and Philosophy of Science University of Leeds, England
  • Edited by Bernd Kasemir, Harvard University, Massachusetts, Jill Jäger, International Human Dimensions Programme, Bonn, Carlo C. Jaeger, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Matthew T. Gardner, Biogen Inc.
  • Foreword by William C. Clark, Harvard University, Massachusetts, Alexander Wokaun, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
  • Book: Public Participation in Sustainability Science
  • Online publication: 22 September 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511490972.007
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Models as metaphors
    • By Jerry Ravetz, Reader in the History and Philosophy of Science University of Leeds, England
  • Edited by Bernd Kasemir, Harvard University, Massachusetts, Jill Jäger, International Human Dimensions Programme, Bonn, Carlo C. Jaeger, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Matthew T. Gardner, Biogen Inc.
  • Foreword by William C. Clark, Harvard University, Massachusetts, Alexander Wokaun, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
  • Book: Public Participation in Sustainability Science
  • Online publication: 22 September 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511490972.007
Available formats
×