The Classification of Models A Proposal

Abstract

It is here proposed to classify models into seven categories: the pure physical, the physical geometric, the interpretive geometric, the interpretive analogue, the computational analogue, the computational mathematical and the pure mathematical models. A certain overlap is diagrammatically demonstrated in a spectrum of models and examples of each category are presented and discussed. Certain assumptions have to be made and it is hoped that the classification will be of benefit to users of models.