From Empirical Models to Theory: Lessons from Dynamic Energy Budget

What is it about?

This paper uses Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory to illustrate how scientific knowledge develops from empirical formulae to models and, ultimately, to coherent theoretical frameworks. It discusses the requirements that models must meet to support theory development, using DEB as an example of a mechanistic approach that links biological processes through consistent assumptions about energy and mass flows in living organisms.

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Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash

Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The paper highlights that predictive and explanatory power in science depends on models that are internally consistent, mechanistic, and based on general principles rather than empirical fits alone. By using DEB theory as a case study, it clarifies the conditions under which models can contribute to theory building, helping to distinguish between descriptive relationships and explanatory frameworks.