A model is a simplified representation of some aspect of the world.

In what
ways may models help or hinder the research for knowledge?

A model by definition is a schematic description of a system, theory, or

phenomenon that accounts for its known or inferred properties and may be
used for further study of its characteristics(source) that implies that a model is
supposed to be a helping hand while searching for knowledge in any subject.
Sometimes however models can appear to be quite confusing as they are to
general or too far away from real life situations. So how and in what way
models can help and hinder the search for knowledge in natural sciences,
human sciences and arts I am going to argue in the following essay.

In school we learn all our subjects with the help of models and especially in
natural sciences we need them in order to assume what might happen if, say in
biology, in a cell there is a lack of oxygen and we know and can explain with a
model of a cell and of the respiratory cycle how anaerobic respiration works
and what it does and needs. With the help of the model and through logical
connecting of facts that the student might already have, he can develop the
thought in his or her mind and therefore gain new knowledge about a
theoretical process that was proven to take place in the human body. Another
model, which however is not as accurate also in Biology is the Sigmoid
Population growth curve. It displays the population growth of a species over a
period of time that settled in a new place. It is a generalised idea, which does
not have to take place but is very likely to and has already been seen in various
areas and populations even in human population. With the knowledge of this
model people make assumptions about the development of a population which

will eventually reach a point at which it cannot grow anymore called the
carrying capacity. People made assumptions like that about the earth too and
apparently we already went above the actual carrying capacity of the earth and
our population is still growing. That shows that some models are to general in
order to gain true knowledge from them. Another example which shows that
some models in natural science are not reliable is the case of the J.J
Thompsons cathode experiment. He gestated the first atom model, after his
discovery Rutherford did his gold foil experiment in order to confirm
Thompsons model. However the result was different from what he expected. In
fact Rutherfords experiment invalidated Thompsons model, hence a new
model has been created, namely where all of the positive charge and most of
the mass of the atom are contained in a compact nucleus.1That shows that
some models are to general in order to gain true knowledge from them. This
again shows that some proposed models, has been disaproved, and through
this new models, have been created. Therefore these models helped us in the
search for knowledge, as they have led us to a new acquired knowledge.

In Mathematics, I have studied a lot of models which then can be applied to

real life cases. For instance the model of the sine function, is an aid for us to
understand cycle that occur in nature, such as in astronomy, where they rely
heavily on the sine function. Not only that but also in Art, sine or other
functions can be shown for waves of different frequencies. Also the sine
function is a model for us in order to understand how the Ferris Wheel is being
generated. Hence here it can be said that the models in particular the area of
mathematics help us for the search for knowledge, as without the sine function,
1 http://www.lexic.us/definition-of/Rutherford_atom

it would be harder to create the Ferris Wheel. Therefore it can be said that
those models help us to understand everyday knowledge.

Even in art there are models in order to distinguish what kind of art an art piece
happens to be. For each kind of art there are several characteristics at which a
person may that be an artist or a normal person can recognise an art piece. For
example we know that abstract art does not hold on to classic lines and where
a lot of interpretation has to happen in order to understand it. However the
models of art only help us in the search for artistic knowledge. However
logically anyone can differentiate between a Picasso and a Monet as the
differences are easy to be seen but it takes a lot of study to empirically know
the different models.
That means we can only understand and use the models if we understand art
so to a normal human being that does not want to have a deeper knowledge
about art and its backgrounds and the fine borders between the styles those
models are useless. In this case they are too subject specific for someone to
use. Models can also be interpreted as being rules about how to specifically
draw or paint something so that it is art. A good example for that is the Mona
Lisa by Leonardo DaVinci. Although he drew a women in a realistic way, her
eyebrows are missing, which lets people detach from the painting emotionally
as she seems less human in a way. In the Arts models can also be something
different. A very good example for that would be the Mona Lisa by Leonardo
DaVinci. His model we assume was a woman or a man that must have looked
just like an everyday person, however DaVinci whether on purpose or not left
out any emotion and lets the person appear extremely emotionless and cold. In
this way the art work hinders us from knowing more about the intentions of this

painting and also about the person being drawn. However this is a trigger for
people to want to find out more about this painter and painting, which then
might lead to other knowledge being found out and other discoveries to be
made.we dont know much about the actual model or if it was a real person at
all, what emotions he or she was feeling.

Also in social sciences there are several models which were created in order to
predict human behavior. The knowledge issues which hereby arises, is whether
those models legitimately resemble to the reality, they suggest to picture.The
economic model of the Phillips Curve was created in order to show that there is
an inverse trade-off between the unemployment and inflation in a country.
Consequently some governments such as Spain decreased interest rates in
order to minimize the unemployment rate, regardless of the increased inflation.
Since the Phillips Curve showed them that inflation can be tackled at another
time. The result of this policy was that unemployment rose as well as inflation.
Hence here it shows that this model was not a truthful representation of some
aspect of the world. It can be said that the first model which was made logically
did not prove to be right, in fact the many people empirically came to the
knowledge that there is a trade-off between inflation and unemployment, this
model was later redone in order to assimilate to a real-life cases. Hence here it
shows that a re-done model led to a more developed knowledge. The reason
why some models do not fulfill their requirement, is simply because humanity
is irrational and it is challenging to predict their behavior. Therefore humanity is
being influenced by a numerous of other things, and when making a decision it
is also being influenced by emotions. Consequently when talking about a model
which is based on human behavior, such as in social science, it has to be taken

into consideration that there are many factors that can influence the search for
knowledge as well as it depends on the human being itself and its situation.

So in conclusion we can see that it always depends on the model and what the
model is needed for to know whether or not it is helpful in the search for
knowledge. There are models that are needed in order for humans to make
predictions and in order to explain some parts of the world to others and then
again there are models that are less important. But overall the models created
exist in order to simplify a complicated theory and in order to explain
something so the answer to the question can be answered with that most
models help in the research for knowledge.