Towards a fundamental theory of modeling discrete systems

TL;DR

This paper introduces the Heraklit modeling framework as a new foundational approach to modeling discrete systems, addressing challenges in the digital age and emphasizing the need for a fundamental theory.

Contribution

The paper proposes the Heraklit framework, a novel approach to modeling discrete systems, aiming to establish a fundamental theory for modeling in the digital era.

Findings

Introduction of the Heraklit modeling framework

Discussion of modeling challenges in the digital age

Future directions for modeling correctness and invariance

Abstract

Modeling is a central concern in both science and engineering. However, we need a new fundamental theory to address the challenges of the digital age. In this paper, we first explain why modeling is fundamental and which challenges must be addressed in the digital world. As a main contribution, we introduce the Heraklit modeling framework as a new approach to modeling. We conclude with some general remarks. Future work will involve the correctness of modeling, the notion of information, and the description of invariance in modeling.