TY - JOUR
AU - Bertalanffy, LUDWIG
AB -  J.N A CONSIDERATION of theoretical models the first question is whether such models are necessary and desirable at all Empiristic movements have often answered in the negative History of science shows, however, that progress does not consist m a mere gathering of facts, but largely depends on the establishment of theoretical constructs Idealizations never completely realized m nature, such as the conceptions of an ideal gas or an absolutely rigid body, and constructs such as the structural formulae m chemistry or the planetary model of the atom, form the basis of physical theory On the other hand, the fact that adequate model conceptions have not yet been found is the reason that many fields within the biological sciences are a mere collection of an ever increasing amount of data, lacking exact laws and not permitting control of the phenomena m thought and in practice Though the necessity of theoretical models may be granted, we must be aware of their limitations also, especially as far as psychology IS concerned Theoretical constructs are essentially a means of establishing "laws of nature " A first limitation can be expressed by the dictum of the scholastics individuum est meffabile All laws of 
TI - Theoretical Models in Biology and Psychology
JF - Journal of Personality
DO - 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1951.tb01511.x
DA - 1951-01-01
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/wiley/theoretical-models-in-biology-and-psychology-E9vfOViuTj
SP - 24
EP - 38
VL - 20
IS - 1
DP - DeepDyve
ER -