A Philosophical Foundation of Qualitative Modeling Methodologies Based on the Yin-Yang Principle

In this paper, we develop a philosophical foundation for qualitative modeling and reasoning methodologies . First, we introduce the Yin and Yang principle and briefly review its origins in Chinese philosophy . We analyze the classical Western science model from a Yin-Yang perspective, and compare Eastern and Western approaches to methods of scientific inquiry. We show that traditional dichotomies such as hard versus soft sciences, quantitative-formal versus qualitativeinformal methods, or objective versus subjective perspectives break down in light of modern scientific discoveries . We argue that qualitative modeling and reasoning may provide an integrative methodological framework that overcome those rigid limitations . We point out several properties of qualitative reasoning methods and applications that bear closer relationships to Eastern philosophical principles than to the traditional model of Western science . We relate some major assumptions, features and characteristics of qualitative modeling and reasoning to Yin-Yang theory and show that Eastern thought can contribute significantly to the motivation and understanding of qualitative reasoning as a particular scientific method .