Agent-Based Modeling in Philosophy

Simple agent-based models can produce surprisingly strong results. 43 years ago Thomas Schelling demonstrated with his famous checkerboard model that a small racial preference is sufficient to produce strict segregation over time. In recent years agent-based modeling has become common currency in philosophy with work on the emergence and change of moral behavior (Alexander 2007), the social structure of science (Zollman 2007) and the division of cognitive labor (Weisberg & Muldoon 2009). Easily accessible but powerful software (NetLogo) has been developed to democratize agent-based modeling. Yet many philosophers lack even the most basic programming experience and do not know where to begin.

The Ghent Center for Logic and Philosophy of Science and its doctoral schools (Ghent University) and the Tilburg Center for Logic and Philosophy of Science (TILPS, Tilburg University) offer a five-day course to stimulate the use of this resource. Generally, the course is “hands-on”. The goal is to provide participants with a sound enough basis to start modeling themselves. In order to build, apply, or interpret a computational model, certain basic skills are needed. These can be roughly divided into three categories: conception, coding and valorization. In this five-day course, morning sessions will be led by Aaron Bramson and focus specifically on learning how to code Netlogo models. In the afternoon participants can work in smaller groups on their own projects, with an emphasis on conception and valorization. The afternoon sessions will be led by Kevin Zollman and Ryan Muldoon, philosophers with particular expertise in the application of agent-based models to topics in philosophy.

Mentors: Aaron Bramson, Ryan Muldoon, Kevin Zollman 

To participate, send an email by 31 March 2012 to the organizer ([email protected]) with your name, affiliation and a short explanation of why you want to attend the course. Places are limited and priority is important. For more details, check the workshop website.