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Analysis and synthesis: multi-agent systems in the social sciences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2012

Robert E. Marks
Robert E. Marks*
Affiliation:
Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic 3053, Australia; e-mail: robert.marks@mbs.edu
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Abstract

Although they flow from a common source, the uses of multi-agent systems (or ‘agent-based computational systems’––ACE) vary between the social sciences and computer science. The distinction can be broadly summarized as analysis versus synthesis, or explanation versus design. I compare and contrast these uses, and discuss sufficiency and necessity in simulations in general and in multi-agent systems in particular, with a computer science audience in mind.

Type
Articles
Information
The Knowledge Engineering Review , Volume 27 , Special Issue 2: Agent-Based Computational Economics , 26 April 2012 , pp. 123 - 136
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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