ABSTRACT
Scientific laws have often been contrasted with theoretical models. This contrast became sharper with the occurrence of methodological reorientation from the analysis of laws to the analysis of models in scientific practice. A clear illustration of this tendency is the science-without-laws thesis. This chapter addresses questions concerning relations between scientific laws and theoretical models, as well as their epistemic virtues and vices. It also explores the interchange of the functions of laws and models – functions traditionally attributed to laws are currently performed by models and the other way around.
