Confirmation via Analogue Simulation: What Dumb Holes Can Tell us About Gravity

In this paper we argue for a novel form of confirmation via analogue simulation. This notion is distinct from the modes of analogical reasoning detailed in the literature, and draws inspiration from fluid dynamical `dumb hole' analogues to gravitational black holes. For that case, which is considered in detail, we defend the claim that the phenomena of gravitational Hawking radiation can be confirmed via experiments conducted on the analogue model. A prospectus is given for further potential cases of analogue simulation in contemporary science