Meadows, Donella H., "The Unavoidable A Priori", 1976
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This paper is a summary of the major assumptions underlying the field of computer modeling and the specific assumptions that differentiate four modeling methods used to represent social systems: system dynamics, econometrics, input-output analysis, and optimization. The primary conclusions are: 1. Each modeling method is based on a set of techniques and priors that suit it well to some sorts of policy problems and poorly to others. 2. Misunderstandings between different kinds of modelers and between modelers and clients often arise from failures to recognize these implicit priors and the various strengths and weaknesses of the various modeling schools. 3. Some modeling schools, especially system dynamics and econometrics, are based on such different basic world views and assumptions about the nature of human knowledge that communication from one school to another is almost impossible.