Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Journal | Volume | Article

216772

Software intensive science

John Symons Jack K. Horner

pp. 461-477

Abstract

This paper argues that the difference between contemporary software intensive scientific practice and more traditional non-software intensive varieties results from the characteristically high conditionality of software. We explain why the path complexity of programs with high conditionality imposes limits on standard error correction techniques and why this matters. While it is possible, in general, to characterize the error distribution in inquiry that does not involve high conditionality, we cannot characterize the error distribution in inquiry that depends on software. Software intensive science presents distinctive error and uncertainty modalities that pose new challenges for the epistemology of science.

Publication details

Published in:

De Mol Liesbeth, Primiero Giuseppe (2014) Trends in the history and philosophy of computing. Philosophy & Technology 27 (3).

Pages: 461-477

DOI: 10.1007/s13347-014-0163-x

Full citation:

Symons John, Horner Jack K. (2014) „Software intensive science“. Philosophy & Technology 27 (3), 461–477.