This article highlights a use of analogies in science that so far has received relatively little systematic discussion: providing reasons for pursuing a model or theory. Using the development of the liquid drop model as a test case, I critically assess two extant pursuit worthiness accounts: (i) that analogies justify pursuit by supporting plausibility arguments and (ii) that analogies can serve as a guide to potential theoretical unification. Neither of these fit the liquid drop model case. Instead, I develop an alternative account, based on the idea that analogies facilitate the transfer of a well-understood modelling strategy to a new domain. 1. Introduction2. Case Study: The Development of the Liquid Drop Model3. Plausibility Accounts 3.1. Bartha on plausibility and analogical inference3.2. Plausibility and the drop analogy4. Analogies as a Guide to Unification5. Generative Accounts 5.1. Analogy-based modelling strategies5.2. Did analogies play a merely generative role?6. A New Pursuit Worthiness Account of Analogies 6.1. Transferring understanding-with through analogies6.2. Understanding-with and the liquid drop model7. Conclusion Introduction Case Study: The Development of the Liquid Drop Model Plausibility Accounts 3.1. Bartha on plausibility and analogical inference3.2. Plausibility and the drop analogy Bartha on plausibility and analogical inference Plausibility and the drop analogy Analogies as a Guide to Unification Generative Accounts 5.1. Analogy-based modelling strategies5.2. Did analogies play a merely generative role? Analogy-based modelling strategies Did analogies play a merely generative role? A New Pursuit Worthiness Account of Analogies 6.1. Transferring understanding-with through analogies6.2. Understanding-with and the liquid drop model Transferring understanding-with through analogies Understanding-with and the liquid drop model Conclusion

中文翻译：

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“水滴和原子核：科学中的类比和追求价值”

这篇文章强调了科学中类比的使用，到目前为止，系统讨论相对较少：提供追求模型或理论的理由。使用液滴模型的发展作为测试案例，我批判性地评估了两个现存的追求价值帐户：（i）类比通过支持合理性论证来证明追求的合理性；（ii）类比可以作为潜在理论统一的指南。这些都不适合液滴模型情况。相反，我开发了一个替代帐户，基于类比有助于将一个易于理解的建模策略转移到新领域的想法。1. 介绍 2. 案例研究：液滴模型的开发3。合理性帐户 3.1。Bartha 关于合理性和类比推理 3.2。合理性和下降类比4。类比作为统一指南 5。生成帐户 5.1。基于类比​​的建模策略5.2。类比是否仅起到生成作用？ 6．类比的新追求价值说明 6.1。6.2 通过类比传递理解。理解与液滴模型7。结论 介绍 案例研究：液滴模型可信度账户的发展 3.1．Bartha 关于合理性和类比推理 3.2。合理性和下降类比 Bartha 关于合理性和类比推理 合理性和下降类比 类比作为统一生成账户指南 5.1。基于类比​​的建模策略5.2。类比是否仅发挥了生成作用？基于类比​​的建模策略 类比是否仅发挥了生成作用？类比的新追求价值说明 6.1。6.2 通过类比传递理解。理解与液滴模型 通过类比传递理解与理解与液滴模型 结论