Exploring the Modalities of Combining Biological Models

Abstract

Abstract This article examines how biological models are combined in biomedical research. It analyzes the notion of epistemological space, understood not as an abstract space of epistemic possibilities but as a framework for coordinating heterogeneous models through zones of partial compatibility structured by shared features, biological constraints, and research objectives. It also questions the ways in which models are combined, highlighting the methodological choices and epistemic commitments that guide pluralistic modeling practices. Finally, it proposes a representation of these modalities as a heuristic tool for comparing and reflecting on strategies of model combination.