We argue for a foundational epistemic claim and a hypothesis about the production and uses of mathematical epidemiological models, exploring the consequences for our political and socio-economic lives. First, in order to make the best use of scientific models, we need to understand why models are not truly representational of our world, but are already pitched towards various uses. Second, we need to understand the implicit power relations in numbers and models in public policy, and, thus, the implications for good governance if numbers and models are used as the exclusive drivers of decision making.
翻译:首先,为了最好地利用科学模型,我们需要理解为什么模型并不真正代表我们的世界,而是已经投向了各种用途。 其次,我们需要理解公共政策中数字和模式中隐含的权力关系,以及因此如果数字和模式被用作决策的唯一驱动因素,对善政的影响。