Modelling the COVID-19 Pandemic: Epidemiological, Epistemological, and Ethical Challenges

If we were seeking consolation for the huge difficulties that have plagued us since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, we might draw some comfort from the breadth and depth of the discussions that it has given rise to, for all that these have often led to the expression and propagation of misleading views. The present number of Argumenta opens with a Special Issue that intends to take stock of the tenor and quality of these discussions, bringing to light the awareness that we have been acquiring over the last few months about our overall cognitive situation. The Special Issue, edited by Margherita Benzi, Raffaella Campaner and Francesco Barone-Adesi, is entitled Modelling the COVID-19 Pandemic: Epidemiological, Epistemological, and Ethical Challenges, and draws attention to the intricacy of formulating models that take into account the many factors at work in a pandemic. The result is an up-to-date discussion of these aspects that, by focusing on epistemological and epidemiological views, seek to identify what epistemic virtues should guide the choice of models for explanatory and predictive purposes.