looking at them side by side, is that while these are both books about mathematical modeling
Chaikin and Lubensky presents empirical data, compares theoretical predictions to experimental results, and goes into some detail into the considerations which lead to this sort of model for nematic liquid crystals, or that model for magnetism. There is absolutely nothing like this in Blanchard and Fischer - no data at all, no comparison of models to reality, no evidence of any kind supporting any of the models. There is not even an attempt, that I can find, to assess different macroeconomic models, by comparing their qualitative predictions to each other and to historical reality. I presume that Blanchard and Fischer, as individual scholars, are not quite so indifferent to reality, but their pedagogy is.
http://vserver1.cscs.lsa.umich.edu/~crshalizi/weblog/algae-2012-10.html
In medicine, medical doctors read scientific papers or, at least, executive summaries of said papers. The papers contribute useful knowledge. However, even the best software practitioners can go years without reading any research, assuming that they ever read any. I believe that it is because they rightly feel that the papers will not teach them much about the real world.
The problem is made worse by the fact that researchers working on modèles more easily get the upper hand. They are never wrong. They can endlessly refine their modèles and re-evaluate them. As long as there is no actual problem to be solved, the modèles will tend to displace the models. Cargo cult science wins.
http://lemire.me/blog/archives/2013/05/17/a-criticism-of-computer-science-models-or-modeles/
http://vserver1.cscs.lsa.umich.edu/~crshalizi/weblog/algae-2012-10.html
In medicine, medical doctors read scientific papers or, at least, executive summaries of said papers. The papers contribute useful knowledge. However, even the best software practitioners can go years without reading any research, assuming that they ever read any. I believe that it is because they rightly feel that the papers will not teach them much about the real world.
The problem is made worse by the fact that researchers working on modèles more easily get the upper hand. They are never wrong. They can endlessly refine their modèles and re-evaluate them. As long as there is no actual problem to be solved, the modèles will tend to displace the models. Cargo cult science wins.
http://lemire.me/blog/archives/2013/05/17/a-criticism-of-computer-science-models-or-modeles/