Kinds of modalities and modeling practices

Abstract Several recent accounts of modeling have focused on the modal dimension scientific inquiry. More precisely, it has been suggested that there are specific models and practices best understood as being geared towards possibilities, a view recently dubbed modeling. But modalities encompass much more than mere possibility claims. Besides can also be used to investigate contingencies, necessities or impossibilities. Although these concepts logically connected notion possibility, not all equal in their affordances for richer inferences. This paper investigates extent selected argues analyzing singular model-target pairings by themselves is typically enough explain aptness identify kinds they reason about. Furthermore, argued some important explicitly - like biological robustness modally through relational nature background space possibilities. In conclusion, strategy contrastive, situating particular possibilities larger spaces studying structural relations within them.