This thesis will attempt to show how computer simulated models can act as a tool for philosophers. To accomplish this goal, this thesis will be broken down into six sections. The first three sections will go into more detail regarding the nature of the term ‘computer simulated model.’ They will discuss the history of computer simulated models, outline the process of constructing computer simulated models, and give context for the current use of computer simulated models in science. These sections will rely heavily on the work of Eric Winsberg to give a proper understanding of the functions of computer simulated models. The forth section will give a historical overview of different philosophical methods, including the dialectical method, Conceptual Analysis, and the work of Paul Churchland with Artificial Neural Networks. This section will also attempt to show how these philosophical methods relate to computer simulated models. The fifth section will discuss how American Pragmatism provides a positive framework for the utilization of computer simulated models by philosophers, specifically pulling from the works of Charles Peirce, William James, and John Dewey. The sixth and final section will address the notion that computer simulated models are reliable without seeking truth and use that notion to tie together the argument that computer simulated models can serve as a tool for philosophers.
