How scientific understanding is achieved by idealized models

Abstract

Models contribute to our scientific understanding of real-world phenomena. We construct models by idealizing the real world and ignoring or altering some properties. In this sense, an idealized model misrepresents the world. Here the following question arises: how can idealized models provide scientific understanding of the phenomena? In order to answer the question, this article critically examines Strevens’ and Potochnik’s arguments and introduce the notion of intelligibility of a model. Furthermore, this article presents alternative conception of idealization to conventional one, and consider how scientific understanding is achieved by models.