A pragmatic approach to the ontology of models

Abstract What are scientific models? Philosophers of science have been trying to answer this question during the last three decades by putting forward a number different proposals. Some say that models best understood as abstract Platonic objects or fictional entities akin Sherlock Holmes, while others focus on their mathematical nature and see them set theoretical structures. Although each account has its own strengths in offering various insights models, several objections raised against these views which still remain unanswered, making debate ontology seem unresolvable. The primary aim paper is show large part difficulties stems from an inappropriate reading main purely metaphysical question. Building Carnap, it argued either (i) internal within already accepted linguistic framework (ii) external practical regarding choice most appropriate form language order describe explain practice modelling. implication view becomes means probing other related questions overall modelling, such capacity provide knowledge relation with background theories.