A philosophical approach to the concept of data model: Is a data model, infact, a model?

The design of the database is crucial to the process of designing almost an y Information System (IS) and involves two clearly identifiable key concept s: schema and data model, the latter allowing us to define the former Never theless. the term "model" is commonly applied indistinctly to both. the con fusion arising from the fact that in Software Engineering (SE), unlike in f ormal or empirical sciences, the notion of "model" has a double meaning of which we are not always aware. If Av take our idea of "model" directly from empirical sciences, then the schema of a database would actually be a mode l. whereas the data model would be a set of tools allowing its to define su ch a schema. The present paper discusses the meaning of "model" in the area of Software Engineering from a philosophical point of view an important topic for the c onfusion arising directly affects other debates A-here "model" is a key con cept. We would also suggest that the need for a philosophical discussion on the concept of data model is a further argument in favour of institutional izing a new, area of knowledge, which could be called: " Philosophy of Engi neering".