On: Model-Dependent Realism
I don’t use the term “Scientific Theory”, I use the term “Scientific Model”…
…And why?
At least 3 reasons:
1) So a layperson can never (mistakenly!) say: “It’s just a theory-?” when we’re talking about: Science!
2) It means you need: a Model. Say, a diagram. Or a flowchart or something. (Words are a very low-bandwidth communication channel. A picture’s worth 1k words & a symbol’s worth 1k pictures!)
3) It’s more accurate and precise… All Scientific Theories actually ARE: Models! (As well as: Theories.)
So rather than “theory” I call them:
- Darwin’s & Wallace’s (1858, 1859) models of Evolution,
- Newton & Einstein’s models of Gravity,
- Einstein’s General model, and Special model, of Relativity…
- Shannon’s (1948) Model of Communication,
- and, so on…
The main reason is: I share Hawking and Mlodinow’s view of `model-dependent realism’, as they write in their (grand!) book, The Grand Design (2010, p. 7).

The Grand Design (2010)
Here is the crucial passage from that great (and even: grand) book:
`The naive view of reality… is not compatible with modern physics. To deal with such paradoxes we shall adopt an approach that we call model-dependent realism. It is based on the idea that our brains interpret the input from our sensory organs by making a model of the world. When such a model is successful at explaining events, we tend to attribute to it, and to the elements and concepts that constitute it, the quality of reality or absolute truth. But there may be different ways in which one could model the same physical situation, with each employing different fundamental elements and concepts. If two such physical theories or models accurately predict the same events, one cannot be said to be more real than the other; rather, we are free to use whichever model is most convenient. In the history of science we have discovered a sequence of better and better theories or models, from Plato to the classical theory of Newton to modern quantum theories.’
(Hawking & Mlodinow, 2010, p. 7)
So; yeah.
Here (again) is a model of a System and its Environment.
And here’s a model of:
The HOLON/parton Structure of the Meme, the unit of culture…
See my 5 book-chapters on it for more detail.
Here’s another Model of the same entity (the HOLON/parton Systems Model of: Everything):
And, here’s a Model of my Scientific Formula:
i=P.
(…It’s a Venn Diagram)…
& here’s a model of Creative Practice Theory (aka CPT):
…(also a Venn Diagram)
(Note: Symbolic Capital is in the middle, as: you need all of the other elements to be present, before Symbolic Capital can: emerge from the system...)
& if you like Systems Science, General Systems Theory, Systems Models, Systems Philosophy, & Systems Thinking as much as I do… (I ♥ it)… then here’s some posts:
On Systems Theory & Evolution
- StoryAlity #70 – Key Concepts in Systems Theory, Cybernetics & Evolution
- StoryAlity #70A – The (StoryAlity) Systematizer
- StoryAlity #70B – The Systems View of Life: A Unifying Vision (Capra & Luisi 2014)
- StoryAlity #70C – Systems Philosophy (Laszlo 1972)
- StoryAlity #70C2 – General Systems Theory: Problems, Perspectives, Practice (Skyttner 2005)
- StoryAlity #70D – The Evolving Self (Csikszentmihalyi 1993)
- StoryAlity #70E – On Human Nature – and Evolutionary Psychology
And, here’s my
Meta-Model of Bio-Cultural Evolutionary Creativity:
And below, another Model of the same: (but: a more macro view; it contains less detail of the MIJi sub-system; also, less detail of the categories of Canon; less detail of the Field.)
And here’s a model of Canon vs Archive in Bio-Culture:
For more details, see my recent chapter in The Encyclopedia of Creativity (02020).
And also in: the Encyclopedia of Information Science & Technology (02017):
And here’s
a General Model of all Creativity (in Biology & in Culture):
Another view of it (the same basic model of creativity):
And another: (using symbolic e-memes this time)
And a Model of
Anyway; so – there’s some Scientific Models…!
(…I still don’t like the term Scientific “Theories“…)
&
they all seem to work…?
(So I guess, for now, let’s keep using them…?)
Well; until some better (more: new, useful, surprising = creative) ones, come along!
Science is great like that; it keeps updating. Rapidly.
It is a: self-correcting system…!
Thx 4 rdg!
A StoryAlity PhD-blog post by:
Velikovsky of Newcastle
a.k.a.
Information Scientist & Communication and Media Arts & Sciences Scholar
& BCE (Bio-Cultural Evolution) Creativity Scholar
& Transmedia… guy
=========================
The above is (mostly, probably?) an Adapted Excerpt, from The StoryAlity PhD thesis / dissertation : “Communication, Creativity and Consilience in Cinema” (Velikovsky 02016).
& the book-chapter from the Appendix of that PhD:
i.e.:
Velikovsky, J. T. (2016). The HOLON/parton Theory of the Unit of Culture (or the Meme, and Narreme) in Science, Media, Entertainment and the Arts. In A. Connor & S. Marks (Eds.), Creative Technologies for Multidisciplinary Applications (pp. 208-246). New York: IGI Global.
For more, see the 5 book chapters:
This research is presented here, for the benefit of fellow Creativity & Creative Industries Researchers (including: screenwriters, filmmakers, artists, and scientists, etc).
For more, see: https://aftrs.academia.edu/JTVelikovsky
&
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jt_Velikovsky
JT Velikovsky is also a produced Feature Film Screensmith (screenwriter) & million-selling Transmedia writer-director-producer-actor/screensmith/filmmaker/songwriter.
He has been a professional Story Analyst for major filmovie studios, film funding organizations, and judge for the national writer’s & director’s guilds.
For even more (if you’ve not overdosed, yet) see his Transmedia Writology weblog:
http://on-writering.blogspot.com/
P.S. – Here’s a model of
Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge.
Pingback: StoryAlity#168 – The Problem-Solution Model of Creativity | StoryAlity