Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an interdisciplinary subject, involving computer science, philosophy, psychology, which influences all related fields. The AI-project changed computer science curricula, as well as psychological and philosophical arguments. All sides profited. Distributed AI (DAI) as a version of AI is conceptually closely linked to sociology. There has been a wide use of social metaphors in the development of DAI (contract-networks, cooperation, negotiation). So the influence from sociology on DAI is obvious, whereas it is yet not at all clear, in which way sociology can benefit from DAI.
As DAI advises sociologists to take a new look at computer methods, this might be a good opportunity to rethink the use of computers for sociology more generally. There have been exhaustive arguments in sociology about formalisation and one might like to revisit this debate via the DAI-approach.
This workshop is designed to allow for an exploration of the strengths and dimensions of the (potential) interaction between computer science and sociology. Here, the point of interest is how sociology can constructively use computer science, in particular DAI-technology. Heading towards this end one needs to understand the perspectives of both, sociology and DAI. Only then one can find out whether and how it is possible to establish a computational methodology for sociology.
The two key questions are:
This is why the meeting is arranged as an interdisciplinary event. Also, it offers the possibility to learn from experience made in the science of cognition, which has become a (hybrid-)discipline already.
The idea of this workshop is to gather work already done in Computational Sociology. The talks will be given by scientists, coming from sociological or computer scientific backgrounds, who work on one or another aspect of Computational Sociology. Each talk will be followed by a comment and a discussion. The workshop character of this event implies that the presentation is taken as an opportunity to start a constructive discussion about the more general approach that might be found behind that instance of Computational Sociology.
Scientists in sociology and computer science, who are ready to consider the other discipline as a potential and interesting cooperation partner are warmly welcome at this meeting. Also, they are encouraged to look at presentation material that is available beforehand, so that a thorough discussion can follow the talks.
Saturday, 14th February
9:00 Words of Welcome (Prof. Thomas Malsch), Introduction to the workshop
9:30 B. Kaup and S. Egner: Cooperation between Computer Science and the Humanities in Cognitive Science
11:00 M. Moehring and E. Schumacher: A Multi Agent Approach for Modelling and Simulation in the Social Sciences
12:30 Lunch break
14:00 M. Achterkamp: Comparing two Rational Choice theories on Influence Strategies in Collective Decision Making using Computer Simulation
15:30 R. Plötzner: Representation of scientific knowledge
17:00 - task hour -
20:00 Dinner
Sunday, 15th February
9:00 P. Ahrweiler: Applying computer simulations in Sociology: history and controversies
10:30 R. Bachmann: Playing with power and trust
12:00 Lunch break
14:00 C. Jung and C. Gerber: Abstract Resources as a Modelling Device in the Bounded Optimal Society
15:30 The Problem of Formalisation (open Discussion)
17:00 The End
Please note the following general statement about the language used at the workshop:
Nebenbei bemerkt fanden wir es etwas unverständlich, wieso der Workshop angesichts seines komplexen Themenfeldes und der schwierigen Problematik noch eine weitere Hürde einbaute durch den Rückgriff auf die englische Sprache. Gerade als Soziologe weiß man ja um die Bedeutungsmacht von Kommunikation respektive Sprache und die Frage bleibt, ob eine höhere Anschlußfähigkeit erreicht wird, wenn quasi noch extra Übersetzungs"hürden" eingebaut werden. Aus diesem Grund erfolgt die Antwort auch in Deutsch, in der Hoffnung auf Verständnis und Verstehen.
The following remarks have been pointed out by participants as general insights they gained from the workshop:
Thanks a lot to the participants who contributed to this reflection:
Daniela Ahrens, Anette Gerhard, Peter Imhof, Christoph Jung, Michael Möhring,
Elke Schumacher
If you were a participant of the workshop and if you would like to share your reflections on the workshop with us, please send your (nicely edited!) statement to imhof@tu-harburg.de.