Thus spake Owen Densmore circa 10/01/2008 06:04 AM: > On Oct 1, 2008, at 1:02 AM, Robert Holmes wrote: >> Can't be complexity scientists - the math is too hard. Show your >> average >> ABMer a partial differential equation and he'd run a mile. >> Robert > > I have to agree. The pendulum really needs to swing back again. The > lack of formalism within the ABM world is, in my mind, indicative of a > broader issue: we tend to specialize too much. > > ABMers are great at their domain, Mathematicians at theirs. Neither > are broad enough to grok their counterparts.
Well, I suppose I have to jump in, here. This false dichotomy between "math" and "agent-based computer programs" is pretty annoying. Programming languages _are_ formalisms. Programs are mathematical. True, it's not continuum math riding on top of definitions like the limit, density, and analyticity. But it is math, nonetheless. The real problem isn't that agent-based systems (never mind _models_ for the moment) lack formality. The problem also isn't that ABMers lack mathematical skills (because programming is mathematics). The problem is that everybody's so lazy that we always and everywhere slump back home to comfy familiarity because working outside our own particular domain is HARD. For example, constructing theorems within messy formalisms like a systems programming language is _way_ too difficult for someone comfy in the historical infrastructure of continuum math. In other words, it's not just the ABMers who are lazy. But I don't precisely agree with Owen either. It's not a pendulum swinging between two extremes. Nor is it (necessarily) a problem of specialization. It's a cultural problem where each individual is reared to be non-confrontational and non-critical while simultaneously being encouraged towards hubris and posturing. [grin] Sorry for the interruption. -- glen e. p. ropella, 971-219-3846, http://tempusdictum.com ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
