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## Naming Conventions (Use Case vs. Description) ## Naming Conventions (Use Case vs. Description)
Related topic: [[realism-vs-instrumentalism]] Related topic: [[heuristics#Realism vs. Instrumentalism]]
Naming by use case is intuitive for those without estimating or field experience, Naming by use case is intuitive for those without estimating or field experience,
but has the side effect that those accustomed to the names but has the side effect that those accustomed to the names
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one can closely approximate small dimensions, one can closely approximate small dimensions,
even without the proper tools. even without the proper tools.
## See Also ## Realism vs. Instrumentalism
[[realism-vs-instrumentalism]] Realism holds that the purpose of [scientific research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research)
is to describe the world as accurately as possible.
Instrumentalism (anti-realism) argues that the purpose
is to _forecast as accurately as possible_.
> [!quote] George E. P. Box, British statistician
> All models are wrong, but some are useful.[^1]
[^1]: > [!quote] [[box_1987_empirical-model-building#The Use of Approximating Functions]]
> The fact that the polynomial is an approximation
> does not necessarily detract from its usefulness
> because all models are approximations.
> Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful.
> [!quote] _Opinionated History of Mathematics_, "Did Copernicus steal ideas from Islamic astronomers?" (pp.)
> Ptolemy's lunar model is "flawed"
> in that it inaccurately describes Luna's distance from Earth,
> however Ptolemy only ever used the model to predict eclipses,
> which the model does very well.
> The discrepancy is only a flaw from a realist perspective.
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---
id:
aliases: []
title: Realism vs. Instrumentalism
tags:
- authorship/original
- destiny/fleeting
- status/draft
- type/encyclopedia-entry
dg-publish: true
---
# Realism vs. Instrumentalism
Realism holds that the purpose of [scientific research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research)
is to describe the world as accurately as possible.
Instrumentalism (anti-realism) argues that the purpose
is to _forecast as accurately as possible_.
> [!quote] George E. P. Box, British statistician
> All models are wrong, but some are useful.[^1]
[^1]: > [!quote] [[box_1987_empirical-model-building#The Use of Approximating Functions]]
> The fact that the polynomial is an approximation
> does not necessarily detract from its usefulness
> because all models are approximations.
> Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful.
> [!quote] _Opinionated History of Mathematics_, "Did Copernicus steal ideas from Islamic astronomers?" (pp.)
> Ptolemy's lunar model is "flawed"
> in that it inaccurately describes Luna's distance from Earth,
> however Ptolemy only ever used the model to predict eclipses,
> which the model does very well.
> The discrepancy is only a flaw from a realist perspective.
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@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from Ace to PDI estimating.
At a high level, At a high level,
it's that our process is built on _instrumental_ methods, it's that our process is built on _instrumental_ methods,
but that it is frequently judged from a _realist_ perspective. but that it is frequently judged from a _realist_ perspective.
See [[realism-vs-instrumentalism]]. See [[heuristics#Realism vs. Instrumentalism]].
There may be a more accurate way to state this. There may be a more accurate way to state this.
[[2025-11-10_11-14-00]] may be an example of a similar issue, [[2025-11-10_11-14-00]] may be an example of a similar issue,
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@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@ because otherwise it would be necessary to have double the assemblies,
or to expect estimators to substitute each size of wire or to expect estimators to substitute each size of wire
everywhere bare was necessary. everywhere bare was necessary.
See [[realism-vs-instrumentalism]]. See [[heuristics#Realism vs. Instrumentalism]].
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@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ which were based on conflicting direction
received from other estimators and seniors, received from other estimators and seniors,
were made _without_ reason. were made _without_ reason.
See [[realism-vs-instrumentalism]]. See [[heuristics#Realism vs. Instrumentalism]].
The peer's senior is looking for a _realist_ objection to his methods, The peer's senior is looking for a _realist_ objection to his methods,
which an estimator without field experience (which the senior has) which an estimator without field experience (which the senior has)
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@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ yearly: "[[2026]]"
> in other than [[units-takeoff|Units]]. > in other than [[units-takeoff|Units]].
I expressed that, I expressed that,
from a [[realism-vs-instrumentalism|realist]] perspective, from a [[heuristics#Realism vs. Instrumentalism|realist]] perspective,
the `... DEVICES WITH WIRE - PVC` assemblies the `... DEVICES WITH WIRE - PVC` assemblies
are unsuitable for use in drop ceilings are unsuitable for use in drop ceilings
since they don't provide a flex whip and box. since they don't provide a flex whip and box.