Introduction

Abstract

Observation is the ultimate basis for our understanding of the world around us. But observation alone only gives information about particular events; it provides little help for dealing with new situations. Our ability and aptitude to recognize similarities in different events, to distil the important factors for a specific purpose, and to generalize our experience enables us to operate effectively in new environments. The result of this skill is knowledge, an essential resource for any intelligent agent.

“Dass alle unsere Erkenntnis mit der Erfahrung anfange, daran ist gar kein Zweifel. ... Wenn aber gleich alle unsere Erkenntnis mit der Erfahrung anhebt, so entspringt sie darum doch nicht eben alle aus der Erfahrung.”

— Kant I., Kritik der reinen Vernunft, 1877.

“Model-building is the essence of the operations research approach.”

— Wagner H.M., Principles of Operations Research, 1975.

“Today mathematicians are generally part of a project team — as such they develop expertise about the process of system being analysed rather than act merely as solvers of mathematical equations.”

— Cross/Moscardini, 1985.