Re: [Swarm-Support] Repast vs. Swarm

[Marcus G. Daniels]

Anju Dahiya wrote:

> By the way I need your answer to fill the just started MAS FAQs topic: 
> Is agent based modeling a dodgy scientific activity?

I didn't actually say that.  What I said is that my perception is that 
there appear to be a number of important scientists that don't regard it 
highly.  Personally I think is that the advocacy of ABM is tiresome -- 
if a person believes it has value, she should use it to guide her 
thinking and exploration and analysis and find a way to present the 
results that come out of it in such a way they are fit for consumption 
by her scientific community.  In this way, she has a tool that others 
her competitors do not, and can thus gain status!  See, it's actually 
better!
Simulations are great for creating unexpected results.  So collect a 
bunch of unexpected results, find a subset that can be analyzed down 
using conventional reductionistic techniques, and write paper after 
paper that elaborating on a new hypothesis, all while knowing the answer 
that will come out.  Just don't tell.