What Are Heuristic Models? Do They Help Us Understand the World

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The Answer is Heuristic, or informal, models are models that are expressed in words. Basically, they are stories that can give plausible explanations for patterns or results observed in the real world. They do not rely on formal scientific or empirical methods. These models give us a sense of understanding, when successful, because they offer explanations that are satisfying. However, they can never provide a True understanding of the world because they are only tested on their reasonableness. They take advantage of the fact that the human mind is a fast pattern completer and appreciates stories that fit together nicely. In order for a heuristic model to offer us a True understanding of the world around us, the assumptions and results of these models would have to be tested scientifically with out-of-sample data. Heuristic models are a good starting point in pursuit of understanding, because they can help us rule out explanations that do not conform to proper reasoning.

What Are Heuristic Models? Do They Help Us Understand the World

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