Books by Virginia Grigoriadou
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Εκδόσεις 24γράμματα, 2023
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Medicina Historica, 2022
The measures of obligatory vaccination against COVID19 disease in
Greece, have failed to cater fo... more The measures of obligatory vaccination against COVID19 disease in
Greece, have failed to cater for people, who for serious medical reasons, were prohibited by their private doctors to be vaccinated. This
fact, however, leads to their unwilling social seclusion, since they cannot obtain the vaccination certificate that ensures access to all social
activities. They are, therefore, faced with the dilemma of consenting
to vaccination, disregarding possible health even fatal consequences,
or social exclusion and isolation. The aim of this research study is to
discuss this ethical conflict, between what is considerate ethical for the
society in contrast to restriction of personal will and health. It wishes
to rediscover the very essence of commitment to protecting human
rights-health and social well- being. This dilemma will be viewed and
examined under the scope of core ethical values and principals met in
Hippocrates oath and the fundamental ethical theory of Utilitarianism. The study will try, drawing from these ethical theories and definitions, to test these questions and conclude on what is the indicative
ethical choice. The study wishes to purpose suggestions of measures
that can be taken, in order to ensure equal operations for all citizens,
based on medical ethics and self -disposition principles. It will also
propose actions that should put in the equation sensitive groups. We
feel that a balanced ethical approach that does not accentuate disparities within and among different groups, could ensure health equality, better social resilience and commitment to effective prospective
preparedness.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
SIGNUM 4-5, 2021
Signum
Ετήσια Επιστημονική Επιθεώρηση για τις Ανθρωπιστικές, Κοινωνικές, Περιβαλλοντικές και Πολι... more Signum
Ετήσια Επιστημονική Επιθεώρηση για τις Ανθρωπιστικές, Κοινωνικές, Περιβαλλοντικές και Πολιτιστικές Επιστήμες
Τομέας Ανθρωπιστικών, Κοινωνικών Επιστημών και Δικαίου
Σχολή Εφαρμοσμένων Μαθηματικών και Φυσικών Επιστημών
Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο
Περίοδος Β΄ Τεύχος 4-5/2021
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Papers by Virginia Grigoriadou
Conatus, 2024
The measures of obligatory vaccination against COVID-19 disease in Greece, have failed to
cater ... more The measures of obligatory vaccination against COVID-19 disease in Greece, have failed to
cater to people, who for serious medical reasons, were prohibited by their private doctors to
be vaccinated. This fact, however, leads to their unwilling social seclusion, since they cannot
obtain the vaccination certificate that ensures access to all social activities. They are, therefore,
faced with the dilemma of consenting to vaccination, disregarding possible health or even fatal
consequences, or social exclusion and isolation. This research study aims to discuss this ethical
conflict, between what is considered ethical for society in contrast to restriction of personal
will and health. It wishes to rediscover the very essence of the commitment to protecting
human rights-health and social well-being. This dilemma will be viewed and examined under
the scope of core ethical values and principles met in Hippocrates’ oath and the fundamental
ethical theory of Utilitarianism. The study will try, drawing from these ethical theories and
definitions, to test these questions and conclude on what the indicative ethical choice is. The
study wishes to propose suggestions of measures that can be taken to ensure equal operations
for all citizens, based on medical ethics and self-disposition principles. It will also propose
actions that should be put in the equation, sensitive groups. We feel that a balanced ethical
approach that does not accentuate disparities within and among different groups, could ensure
health equality, better social resilience, and commitment to effective prospective preparedness.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
European Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 2024
This research traces and examines specific examples of the application of model organisms during ... more This research traces and examines specific examples of the application of model organisms during the experimentation of biomedical sciences and psychology. The main purpose of the study is to compare how scientists utilize animal models for experiments with specific cases of humans who were used as test subjects, focusing on methodologies and main motivations. A core question that motivated this work is: Can we use the term ‘‘model organisms’’ to refer to human beings? In other words, can human beings be considered analogue models, specifically model organisms? This study will try to respond to the above question, by drawing upon theoretical frameworks and definitions from the field of philosophy of science, particularly focusing on the concepts of the analogue model, model organisms, and animal model. It will also analyze specific examples of experimental utilization of animal models, such as Hippocratic physicians’ experiments involving goat brains, Galen's experiments on a pig during the Greco-Roman period, and the utilization of guinea pigs in modern scientific research. Finally, the study will examine historical examples where humans were used as test subjects including the Nazi medical experiments during World War II and the Stanford prison experiment conducted by psychology professor Philip G. Zimbardo.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
CONFERENCE PAPER, 2024
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
European Journal of Theoretical and Applied Sciences
This research traces and examines specific examples of the precursors of scientific models that w... more This research traces and examines specific examples of the precursors of scientific models that were applied in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the ancient Greek world. The main purpose of the study is to compare the way that these different civilizations used models but also the purposes of their utilization in pre-Hellenic and ancient Greek science. A core question that arose is: Can we trace the roots of the utilization of what we nowadays call ‘‘scientific models’’ in ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Greek scientific activity? Another important question is how the application of models differs in the scientific activity of these civilizations. Based on an extensive review of historical books, papers, and web sources I inferred that ancient Egyptians and Babylonians utilized tools that nowadays we call mathematical and analogue or material models and the ancient Greeks utilized theoretical, fiction, and analogue models. Moreover, while the basic function of these tools seems t...
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
European Journal Of Theoretical And Applied Sciences, 2023
This research traces and examines specific examples of the precursors of scientific models that w... more This research traces and examines specific examples of the precursors of scientific models that were applied in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the ancient Greek world. The main purpose of the study is to compare the way that these different civilizations used models but also the purposes of their utilization in pre-Hellenic and ancient Greek science. A core question that arose is: Can we trace the roots of the utilization of what we nowadays call ‘‘scientific models’’ in ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Greek scientific activity? Another important question is how the application of models differs in the scientific activity of these civilizations. Based on an extensive review of historical books, papers, and web sources I inferred that ancient Egyptians and Babylonians utilized tools that nowadays we call mathematical and analogue or material models and the ancient Greeks utilized theoretical, fiction, and analogue models. Moreover, while the basic function of these tools seems to remain stable throughout the centuries, the core difference is detected in the purpose of their utilization in these civilizations and is related to the orientation of their scientific activity. Specifically, the scientific activity of Egyptians and Babylonians mainly aimed at solving practical problems related to spatial planning, architecture, and agriculture as well as issues related to religion while ancient Greek ‘‘episteme,’’ according to Plato, or ‘‘natural philosophy,’’ according to Aristotle, sought the acquisition of knowledge about the natural world, the understanding, description, and explanation of natural phenomena.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
7ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο Φιλοσοφίας της Επιστήμης-Βιβλίο περιλήψεων, 2022
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Ξενοφών-Περιοδική Έκδοση Ολιστικής Φιλοσοφίας, 2018
Τα επιστημονικά μοντέλα αποτελούν μία ιδιαίτερα διαδεδομένη πειραματική τεχνική στις φυσικές επισ... more Τα επιστημονικά μοντέλα αποτελούν μία ιδιαίτερα διαδεδομένη πειραματική τεχνική στις φυσικές επιστήμες από τον 18ο αιώνα μέχρι σήμερα. H σημασία τους κατά την προσπάθεια περιγραφής, ερμηνείας και πρόβλεψης του φυσικού κόσμου είναι αναγνωρισμένη και ευρέως αποδεκτή από ερευνητές πολλών επιστημονικών πεδίων ανά τον κόσμο. Βασικός μηχανισμός λειτουργίας των μοντέλων είναι η ομοιότητα, ένας μηχανισμός ικανός να περιορίσει το κόστος της έρευνας, τις επιστημονικές προσπάθειες και τις ανάγκες ανθρώπινου δυναμικού. Πώς αιτιολογείται, όμως, η συστηματική αξιοποίηση των μοντέλων στην επιστημονική μεθοδολογία των φυσικών επιστημών μετά τον 18ο αιώνα; Ποιος υπήρξε ο ρόλος του Διαφωτισμού στην εξελικτική πορεία της κατανόησης της έννοιας των επιστημονικών μοντέλων και της εκτενούς αξιοποίησής τους στην πειραματική μέθοδο των φυσικών επιστημών; H απάντηση σε αυτά τα ερωτήματα δίνεται μέσω της εξέτασης της επιστημονικής μεθοδολογίας μετά το Διαφωτισμό παράλληλα με την εξέλιξη της έννοιας του επιστημονικού μοντέλου στην επιστήμη από το 18ο έως τον 21ο αιώνα.
Οι σημαντικές αλλαγές που επήλθαν στην επιστημονική μεθοδολογία μετά την επιστημονική επανάσταση και τον Διαφωτισμό οδήγησαν στην ανάπτυξη της πειραματικής μεθόδου του 17ου αιώνα, στο πλαίσιο της οποίας ευνοήθηκε η συστηματική αξιοποίηση νέων επιστημονικών τεχνικών. Υπό αυτή την έννοια ο Αιώνας των Φώτων αποτέλεσε ευνοϊκό πεδίο για την έναρξη της συστηματικής αξιοποίησης των επιστημονικών μοντέλων στον πειραματισμό των φυσικών επιστημών. Τον 19ο αιώνα η εφαρμογή της τεχνικής των μοντέλων επεκτάθηκε σε περισσότερους επιστημονικούς τομείς με κυρίαρχους τη φυσική, τη βιολογία, την αστρονομία, τις γεωεπιστήμες και τη μηχανική. Από τα μέσα του 20ου αιώνα που τα μοντέλα αποτελούν πλέον ένα δοκιμασμένο και καθιερωμένο επιστημονικό εργαλείο, αρχίζουν να διατυπώνονται θεωρητικές προσεγγίσεις που αποσκοπούν στον ορισμό και την κατηγοριοποίηση των διαφορετικών ειδών επιστημονικών μοντέλων. Ο 21ος αιώνας είναι ο αιώνας της συγκέντρωσης της υπάρχουσας γνώσης περί τα μοντέλα, της εξέτασης και εννοιοδότησής τους από διαφορετικά επιστημονικά πεδία και της επέκτασης της εφαρμογής τους σε περισσότερους κλάδους. Από τον 18ο έως τον 21ο αιώνα σημειώνεται η μετάβαση από την έναρξη της πειραματικής αξιοποίησης του εργαλείου στην εντατική προσπάθεια θεωρητικής του τεκμηρίωσης.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Skepsis-A journal for Philosophy and inter-disciplinary research, 2019
The Scientific Revolution along with the ideas coming from the intellectual movement of Enlighten... more The Scientific Revolution along with the ideas coming from the intellectual movement of Enlightenment gradually led to a different conception of the world and to a redefinition of the scientific methodology. The world at this period was perceived as a machine regulated by natural laws. The methodology and discoveries of Copernicus and Galileo were the forerunners of the significant changes that were going to appear in the methodology of natural sciences. Scientists of the 17th and 18th centuries started investigating the world systematically through experimentation, logic, and mathematics, which contributed to the formulation of laws. These conditions favored the utilization of scientific techniques, mechanisms, and models that contributed to the understanding, explaining, and describing of the natural world and also to the drawing of scientific inferences. An interesting example is the mechanism of similarity, which seems to be recognized after the Scientific Revolution, and its systematic exploitation extended significantly after the 19th century through the technique of scientific models, mainly in the fields of Engineering and Physics. Notions of similarity and similar systems were rapidly evolved after the 17th century. This fact leads to the following important question: How did the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment influence the evolution of these concepts?
The concept of similar systems has been identified in Galileo's theories, but it was introduced by Newton, who defined the similar systems mainly based on geometrically similar configurations, similar movements between particles and similar paths in proportional times. In 1914, the American physicist Edgar Buckingham proposed the term ‘‘physically similar systems’’ in order to replace Newton's previously widely accepted term, ‘‘similar systems’’. Buckingham focused on physical similarity. He argued that two physical systems are similar if there is a proportional relation between two corresponding quantities, which can be described by the same equation.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the American philosopher Susan G. Sterrett highlights the significance of similarity, of similar systems and scientific models in the field of Philosophy of Science. Sterrett accepts that the concept of similarity is related to the concept of ratio and she understands the concept of physical similarity as a generalization of the concept of geometrical similarity. Her contribution to the evolution of the concept of similarity is detected in her argument that similarity is always defined in the light of a scientific hypothesis. Therefore, the similarity between a model and an object of interest is usually not absolute, as it is always defined with respect to particular characteristics. In addition, Sterrett argues that similarity is a function mechanism of analogue models, which are used to draw inferences, observations or predictions about similar set-ups that scientists cannot observe.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Conatus, 2021
The concept of similarity has been discussed by many scientists and philosophers since ancient ti... more The concept of similarity has been discussed by many scientists and philosophers since ancient times. Thales of Miletus, Euclid, Aristotle, Galileo, Newton, Edgar Buckingham, and the modern philosopher of science Susan G. Sterrett are examples of intellectuals who perceived and examined the concept of similarity, while many scientists incorporated it in their scientific methodology. The wide range and variety of definitions of similarity could result in confusion regarding the meaning of the concept, the role the similarity mechanism plays in scientific methodology, and the identification of scientific fields to which similarity could be applied. The main aim of this paper was to enhance the understanding of the notion of similarity. To this end, we examined the historical evolution of the concept of similarity and the utilization of the mechanism of similarity in various eras of human intellectual activity, ranging from antiquity to the present day. In this context, the research hy...
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Conference Presentations by Virginia Grigoriadou
Book of abstracts, Conference: The value of scientific representation. Classic issues and contemporary challenges, 21-22 June 2023, Universidade Nova De Lisboa Colegio Almada Negreiros, 2023
Although similarity and analogue models have been widely utilized in various scientific fields si... more Although similarity and analogue models have been widely utilized in various scientific fields since the 18th century, the concept of similarity was somehow neglected in epistemological issues of the Philosophy of Science until the late 20th century, despite that it is a core mechanism that allows experimentation. Several approaches to analogue models have been provided by philosophers in recent decades. However, the wide use of the concept of similarity during the application of analogue models requires further discussion on the role of similarity in the representation of existing physical systems through analogue models, and on the criteria on which the verification of a specific similarity between an analogue model and a system in the study should be based. Thus, this study aims to examine the relationship between similarity and representation and the value of scientific representation throughout the application of analogue models. To address this point, we examine two significant approaches to the concepts of similarity, analogy, and scientific model and the relationship among similarity, representation, and analogue models. Firstly, we examine the theory of Mary B. Hesse concerning the role of analogy during the application of scientific models. Moreover, we study the view of Susan G. Sterrett, who identified similarity as the basic method of analogue models. Also, a new perception of the concept of
similarity is proposed here, being considered as the core mechanism allowing the transfer of knowledge between different scales of the same phenomenon (internal similarity) or among different phenomena or systems (external similarity). Finally, we highlight that the validity of this technique can be ensured if the similarity between two systems is verified, based on strict, scientific, and objective criteria rather than empirical notions.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Uploads
Books by Virginia Grigoriadou
Greece, have failed to cater for people, who for serious medical reasons, were prohibited by their private doctors to be vaccinated. This
fact, however, leads to their unwilling social seclusion, since they cannot obtain the vaccination certificate that ensures access to all social
activities. They are, therefore, faced with the dilemma of consenting
to vaccination, disregarding possible health even fatal consequences,
or social exclusion and isolation. The aim of this research study is to
discuss this ethical conflict, between what is considerate ethical for the
society in contrast to restriction of personal will and health. It wishes
to rediscover the very essence of commitment to protecting human
rights-health and social well- being. This dilemma will be viewed and
examined under the scope of core ethical values and principals met in
Hippocrates oath and the fundamental ethical theory of Utilitarianism. The study will try, drawing from these ethical theories and definitions, to test these questions and conclude on what is the indicative
ethical choice. The study wishes to purpose suggestions of measures
that can be taken, in order to ensure equal operations for all citizens,
based on medical ethics and self -disposition principles. It will also
propose actions that should put in the equation sensitive groups. We
feel that a balanced ethical approach that does not accentuate disparities within and among different groups, could ensure health equality, better social resilience and commitment to effective prospective
preparedness.
Ετήσια Επιστημονική Επιθεώρηση για τις Ανθρωπιστικές, Κοινωνικές, Περιβαλλοντικές και Πολιτιστικές Επιστήμες
Τομέας Ανθρωπιστικών, Κοινωνικών Επιστημών και Δικαίου
Σχολή Εφαρμοσμένων Μαθηματικών και Φυσικών Επιστημών
Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο
Περίοδος Β΄ Τεύχος 4-5/2021
Papers by Virginia Grigoriadou
cater to people, who for serious medical reasons, were prohibited by their private doctors to
be vaccinated. This fact, however, leads to their unwilling social seclusion, since they cannot
obtain the vaccination certificate that ensures access to all social activities. They are, therefore,
faced with the dilemma of consenting to vaccination, disregarding possible health or even fatal
consequences, or social exclusion and isolation. This research study aims to discuss this ethical
conflict, between what is considered ethical for society in contrast to restriction of personal
will and health. It wishes to rediscover the very essence of the commitment to protecting
human rights-health and social well-being. This dilemma will be viewed and examined under
the scope of core ethical values and principles met in Hippocrates’ oath and the fundamental
ethical theory of Utilitarianism. The study will try, drawing from these ethical theories and
definitions, to test these questions and conclude on what the indicative ethical choice is. The
study wishes to propose suggestions of measures that can be taken to ensure equal operations
for all citizens, based on medical ethics and self-disposition principles. It will also propose
actions that should be put in the equation, sensitive groups. We feel that a balanced ethical
approach that does not accentuate disparities within and among different groups, could ensure
health equality, better social resilience, and commitment to effective prospective preparedness.
Οι σημαντικές αλλαγές που επήλθαν στην επιστημονική μεθοδολογία μετά την επιστημονική επανάσταση και τον Διαφωτισμό οδήγησαν στην ανάπτυξη της πειραματικής μεθόδου του 17ου αιώνα, στο πλαίσιο της οποίας ευνοήθηκε η συστηματική αξιοποίηση νέων επιστημονικών τεχνικών. Υπό αυτή την έννοια ο Αιώνας των Φώτων αποτέλεσε ευνοϊκό πεδίο για την έναρξη της συστηματικής αξιοποίησης των επιστημονικών μοντέλων στον πειραματισμό των φυσικών επιστημών. Τον 19ο αιώνα η εφαρμογή της τεχνικής των μοντέλων επεκτάθηκε σε περισσότερους επιστημονικούς τομείς με κυρίαρχους τη φυσική, τη βιολογία, την αστρονομία, τις γεωεπιστήμες και τη μηχανική. Από τα μέσα του 20ου αιώνα που τα μοντέλα αποτελούν πλέον ένα δοκιμασμένο και καθιερωμένο επιστημονικό εργαλείο, αρχίζουν να διατυπώνονται θεωρητικές προσεγγίσεις που αποσκοπούν στον ορισμό και την κατηγοριοποίηση των διαφορετικών ειδών επιστημονικών μοντέλων. Ο 21ος αιώνας είναι ο αιώνας της συγκέντρωσης της υπάρχουσας γνώσης περί τα μοντέλα, της εξέτασης και εννοιοδότησής τους από διαφορετικά επιστημονικά πεδία και της επέκτασης της εφαρμογής τους σε περισσότερους κλάδους. Από τον 18ο έως τον 21ο αιώνα σημειώνεται η μετάβαση από την έναρξη της πειραματικής αξιοποίησης του εργαλείου στην εντατική προσπάθεια θεωρητικής του τεκμηρίωσης.
The concept of similar systems has been identified in Galileo's theories, but it was introduced by Newton, who defined the similar systems mainly based on geometrically similar configurations, similar movements between particles and similar paths in proportional times. In 1914, the American physicist Edgar Buckingham proposed the term ‘‘physically similar systems’’ in order to replace Newton's previously widely accepted term, ‘‘similar systems’’. Buckingham focused on physical similarity. He argued that two physical systems are similar if there is a proportional relation between two corresponding quantities, which can be described by the same equation.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the American philosopher Susan G. Sterrett highlights the significance of similarity, of similar systems and scientific models in the field of Philosophy of Science. Sterrett accepts that the concept of similarity is related to the concept of ratio and she understands the concept of physical similarity as a generalization of the concept of geometrical similarity. Her contribution to the evolution of the concept of similarity is detected in her argument that similarity is always defined in the light of a scientific hypothesis. Therefore, the similarity between a model and an object of interest is usually not absolute, as it is always defined with respect to particular characteristics. In addition, Sterrett argues that similarity is a function mechanism of analogue models, which are used to draw inferences, observations or predictions about similar set-ups that scientists cannot observe.
Conference Presentations by Virginia Grigoriadou
similarity is proposed here, being considered as the core mechanism allowing the transfer of knowledge between different scales of the same phenomenon (internal similarity) or among different phenomena or systems (external similarity). Finally, we highlight that the validity of this technique can be ensured if the similarity between two systems is verified, based on strict, scientific, and objective criteria rather than empirical notions.
Greece, have failed to cater for people, who for serious medical reasons, were prohibited by their private doctors to be vaccinated. This
fact, however, leads to their unwilling social seclusion, since they cannot obtain the vaccination certificate that ensures access to all social
activities. They are, therefore, faced with the dilemma of consenting
to vaccination, disregarding possible health even fatal consequences,
or social exclusion and isolation. The aim of this research study is to
discuss this ethical conflict, between what is considerate ethical for the
society in contrast to restriction of personal will and health. It wishes
to rediscover the very essence of commitment to protecting human
rights-health and social well- being. This dilemma will be viewed and
examined under the scope of core ethical values and principals met in
Hippocrates oath and the fundamental ethical theory of Utilitarianism. The study will try, drawing from these ethical theories and definitions, to test these questions and conclude on what is the indicative
ethical choice. The study wishes to purpose suggestions of measures
that can be taken, in order to ensure equal operations for all citizens,
based on medical ethics and self -disposition principles. It will also
propose actions that should put in the equation sensitive groups. We
feel that a balanced ethical approach that does not accentuate disparities within and among different groups, could ensure health equality, better social resilience and commitment to effective prospective
preparedness.
Ετήσια Επιστημονική Επιθεώρηση για τις Ανθρωπιστικές, Κοινωνικές, Περιβαλλοντικές και Πολιτιστικές Επιστήμες
Τομέας Ανθρωπιστικών, Κοινωνικών Επιστημών και Δικαίου
Σχολή Εφαρμοσμένων Μαθηματικών και Φυσικών Επιστημών
Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο
Περίοδος Β΄ Τεύχος 4-5/2021
cater to people, who for serious medical reasons, were prohibited by their private doctors to
be vaccinated. This fact, however, leads to their unwilling social seclusion, since they cannot
obtain the vaccination certificate that ensures access to all social activities. They are, therefore,
faced with the dilemma of consenting to vaccination, disregarding possible health or even fatal
consequences, or social exclusion and isolation. This research study aims to discuss this ethical
conflict, between what is considered ethical for society in contrast to restriction of personal
will and health. It wishes to rediscover the very essence of the commitment to protecting
human rights-health and social well-being. This dilemma will be viewed and examined under
the scope of core ethical values and principles met in Hippocrates’ oath and the fundamental
ethical theory of Utilitarianism. The study will try, drawing from these ethical theories and
definitions, to test these questions and conclude on what the indicative ethical choice is. The
study wishes to propose suggestions of measures that can be taken to ensure equal operations
for all citizens, based on medical ethics and self-disposition principles. It will also propose
actions that should be put in the equation, sensitive groups. We feel that a balanced ethical
approach that does not accentuate disparities within and among different groups, could ensure
health equality, better social resilience, and commitment to effective prospective preparedness.
Οι σημαντικές αλλαγές που επήλθαν στην επιστημονική μεθοδολογία μετά την επιστημονική επανάσταση και τον Διαφωτισμό οδήγησαν στην ανάπτυξη της πειραματικής μεθόδου του 17ου αιώνα, στο πλαίσιο της οποίας ευνοήθηκε η συστηματική αξιοποίηση νέων επιστημονικών τεχνικών. Υπό αυτή την έννοια ο Αιώνας των Φώτων αποτέλεσε ευνοϊκό πεδίο για την έναρξη της συστηματικής αξιοποίησης των επιστημονικών μοντέλων στον πειραματισμό των φυσικών επιστημών. Τον 19ο αιώνα η εφαρμογή της τεχνικής των μοντέλων επεκτάθηκε σε περισσότερους επιστημονικούς τομείς με κυρίαρχους τη φυσική, τη βιολογία, την αστρονομία, τις γεωεπιστήμες και τη μηχανική. Από τα μέσα του 20ου αιώνα που τα μοντέλα αποτελούν πλέον ένα δοκιμασμένο και καθιερωμένο επιστημονικό εργαλείο, αρχίζουν να διατυπώνονται θεωρητικές προσεγγίσεις που αποσκοπούν στον ορισμό και την κατηγοριοποίηση των διαφορετικών ειδών επιστημονικών μοντέλων. Ο 21ος αιώνας είναι ο αιώνας της συγκέντρωσης της υπάρχουσας γνώσης περί τα μοντέλα, της εξέτασης και εννοιοδότησής τους από διαφορετικά επιστημονικά πεδία και της επέκτασης της εφαρμογής τους σε περισσότερους κλάδους. Από τον 18ο έως τον 21ο αιώνα σημειώνεται η μετάβαση από την έναρξη της πειραματικής αξιοποίησης του εργαλείου στην εντατική προσπάθεια θεωρητικής του τεκμηρίωσης.
The concept of similar systems has been identified in Galileo's theories, but it was introduced by Newton, who defined the similar systems mainly based on geometrically similar configurations, similar movements between particles and similar paths in proportional times. In 1914, the American physicist Edgar Buckingham proposed the term ‘‘physically similar systems’’ in order to replace Newton's previously widely accepted term, ‘‘similar systems’’. Buckingham focused on physical similarity. He argued that two physical systems are similar if there is a proportional relation between two corresponding quantities, which can be described by the same equation.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the American philosopher Susan G. Sterrett highlights the significance of similarity, of similar systems and scientific models in the field of Philosophy of Science. Sterrett accepts that the concept of similarity is related to the concept of ratio and she understands the concept of physical similarity as a generalization of the concept of geometrical similarity. Her contribution to the evolution of the concept of similarity is detected in her argument that similarity is always defined in the light of a scientific hypothesis. Therefore, the similarity between a model and an object of interest is usually not absolute, as it is always defined with respect to particular characteristics. In addition, Sterrett argues that similarity is a function mechanism of analogue models, which are used to draw inferences, observations or predictions about similar set-ups that scientists cannot observe.
similarity is proposed here, being considered as the core mechanism allowing the transfer of knowledge between different scales of the same phenomenon (internal similarity) or among different phenomena or systems (external similarity). Finally, we highlight that the validity of this technique can be ensured if the similarity between two systems is verified, based on strict, scientific, and objective criteria rather than empirical notions.