TY - GEN
T1 - Developing multi-agent-based thought experiments
T2 - 18th International Workshop on Multi-Agent Based Simulation, MABS 2017
AU - Aslan, Umit
AU - Dabholkar, Sugat
AU - Wilensky, Uri
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgments. This work was made possible through generous support from the National Science Foundation (grants CNS-1138461 and CNS 1441041) and the Spencer Foundation (Award #201600069). Any opinions, findings, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding organizations.
Publisher Copyright:
© Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Multi-agent modeling is a computational approach to model behavior of complex systems in terms of simple micro level agent rules that result in macro level patterns and regularities. It has been argued that complex systems approaches provide distinct advantages over traditional equation-based mathematical modeling approaches in the process of scientific inquiry. We present a case study on how multi-agent modeling can be used to develop thought experiments in order to push theory forward. We develop a model of the evolution of gamete dimorphism (anisogamy), for which there are several competing theories in the evolutionary biology literature. We share the outcomes of our model and discuss how the model findings compare with, and contribute to previous work in the literature. The model clarifies mechanisms that can result in the evolution of anisogamy and offers a much simpler structure that is easier to understand, test, modify and extend.
AB - Multi-agent modeling is a computational approach to model behavior of complex systems in terms of simple micro level agent rules that result in macro level patterns and regularities. It has been argued that complex systems approaches provide distinct advantages over traditional equation-based mathematical modeling approaches in the process of scientific inquiry. We present a case study on how multi-agent modeling can be used to develop thought experiments in order to push theory forward. We develop a model of the evolution of gamete dimorphism (anisogamy), for which there are several competing theories in the evolutionary biology literature. We share the outcomes of our model and discuss how the model findings compare with, and contribute to previous work in the literature. The model clarifies mechanisms that can result in the evolution of anisogamy and offers a much simpler structure that is easier to understand, test, modify and extend.
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U2 - 10.1007/978-3-319-91587-6_4
DO - 10.1007/978-3-319-91587-6_4
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85047354254
SN - 9783319915869
T3 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
SP - 47
EP - 61
BT - Multi-Agent Based Simulation XVIII - International Workshop, MABS 2017, Revised Selected Papers
A2 - Dimuro, Gracaliz Pereira
A2 - Antunes, Luis
PB - Springer Verlag
Y2 - 8 May 2017 through 12 May 2017
ER -