【作者】 孙明贺；

【导师】 郦全民；

【作者基本信息】 东华大学 ， 科学技术哲学， 2006， 硕士

【摘要】 众所周知,相对于自然科学而言,当今社会科学的发展显得比较滞后或不够成熟。如何正确地认识和把握纷繁复杂的社会现象,仍然是摆在我们面前的巨大难题。究其原因,很重要的一个方面是由于社会科学的研究对象及其变化过程通常难以或不可重复,因而无法运用直接的真实实验方法来进行研究。 电子计算机的问世和迅速普及,使得运用计算机实验作为真实实验的“替代品”从而解决社会现象的不可复制性问题成为可能。事实上,近年来计算机实验方法已经在社会科学的诸多领域(如经济学、社会学等)获得应用,而且这种趋势正在迅速发展。 本文旨在通过对社会科学特点和传统研究方法的分析,来探讨运用计算机实验方法研究社会科学的必要性、可行性和所起的作用,并进一步分析计算机实验的认识论和方法论价值。 本文第一部分概述了社会科学研究的传统方法。通过分析社会科学区别于自然科学的特点和社会科学中所运用的传统研究方法,弄清了这些方法在对人类行为和社会现象的把握中所起的作用和面临的内在局限,指出需要运用新的方法来解决社会现象的不可复制性问题,而这种方法就是计算机实验。 第二部分阐述了计算机实验方法及其在社会科学研究中的应用更多还原

【Abstract】 It is well known that compared with natural sciences, the development of social sciences appears to be lagging. How to understand the complex social phenomena rightly is still a big problem we have to face. One of the most important reasons is that the objects of social sciences usually cannot be replicated, so we unable to do the real experiment to research of social sciences directly.Following the emergence and rapid popularization of computer, we take the computer experiment to be the real experiment’s substitute, so it’s possible to solve the social phenomena that can’t be replicated. In fact, in recent years, computer experiment has already used in many domains of social sciences (such as economics, sociology etc.), moreover, the tendency is developing rapidly.This article aims at analyzing the characteristics and the traditional methods of social sciences to discuss the feasibility, possibility and effect when we use computer experiment’s method to study in social sciences, and further analyzing the epistemological and methodological value ofcomputer experiment.The first part outlines the traditional methods of social sciences. Through distinguishing characteristics between natural sciences and social sciences, analyzing traditional methods used in social sciences, this part points out the functions and intrinsic limitations of them in mastering the human behaviors and social phenomena. In a word, it is necessary to find a new method to study social phenomena that can’t be replicated.The second part elaborates computer experiment and its vital functions applied in social sciences. It uses methods such as the diagram, comparison and example to analyze several computer experiments in social sciences, and demonstrates concretely the superiorities and the broad prospects of using computer experiment to research of social sciences.The third part discusses the epistemological and the methodological value primarily based on the application of computer experiment in social sciences. Facing the complexities of social objects, computer experiment at least has solved the social problems that can’t be replicated partly and effectively, and it has also initiated philosophical ponders to computer experiment. Whether computer simulation can equate the real world and humanity’s perceptive behavior becomes the key point of discussion. According to the analysis of scholars both from home and abroad, thispart proves in details that computer experiment can bring new knowledge to us and it can become the essential method to understand social phenomena in particular. If we can control research process and means properly, we might consider the virtual world which computer simulated as the mode of the real world. The results of computer experiment takes to the humanity is not only the related possible explanation and existent proof, but also causes humanity’s understanding to advance a deeper broader domain.Finally, the article analyzes the limitations of computer experiment and indicates we should master the merit of computer experiment and display its biggest effect in understanding and transforming world. At the same time we should maintain clear understanding to improve the insufficiencies of computer experiment constantly and seek more effective research methods to understand unknown world deeply.更多还原