Overview
- Revisits and contradicts arguments supported by early philosophers of chemistry
- Uses a structuralist approach to study the relationship between physics and chemistry
- Studies the ontological consequences of quantum chemistry
Part of the book series: European Studies in Philosophy of Science (ESPS, volume 7)
Access this book
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Other ways to access
Table of contents (10 chapters)
-
Front Matter
-
Formal Models
-
Front Matter
-
-
Ontological Consequences
-
Front Matter
-
-
Back Matter
Keywords
- Reduction Chemistry Physics
- Structures Chemistry
- Theories of Chemistry
- Theories of Physics
- Quantum Chemistry
- Philosophy Chemical bond
- Nature Chemical reaction
- Structural approach chemistry
- Chemical ontology
- Structural theory chemistry
- Structural theory physics
- Chemistry physics relationship
- Philosophy chemical structure
- Idealisation chemical bond
- Concretisation chemical bond
- Absolute reaction rates
About this book
This monograph deals with the interrelationship between chemistry and physics, and especially the role played by quantum chemistry as a theory in between these two disciplines. The author uses structuralist approach to explore the overlap between the two sciences, looking at their theoretical and ontological borrowings as well as their continuity.
The starting point of this book is that there is at least a form of unity between chemistry and physics, where the reduction relation is conceived as a special case of this unity. However, matters are never concluded so simply within philosophy of chemistry, as significant problems exist around a number of core chemical ideas. Specifically, one cannot take the obvious success of quantum theories as outright support for a reductive relationship. Instead, in the context of a suitably adapted Nagelian framework for reduction, modern chemistry's relationship to physics is constitutive. The results provided by quantum chemistry, in partic
ular, have significant consequences for chemical ontology.
This book is ideal for students, scholars and academics from the field of Philosophy of Science, and particularly for those with an interest in Philosophy of Chemistry and Physics.
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Hinne Hettema is associated with the University of Auckland. He studied Chemistry and Philosophy at the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, completing a PhD in 1993 (Chemistry) and 2012 (Philosophy). He is one of the authors of the Dalton quantum chemistry package.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: The Union of Chemistry and Physics
Book Subtitle: Linkages, Reduction, Theory Nets and Ontology
Authors: Hinne Hettema
Series Title: European Studies in Philosophy of Science
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60910-2
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2017
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-60909-6Published: 09 August 2017
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-86957-5Published: 12 May 2018
eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-60910-2Published: 01 August 2017
Series ISSN: 2365-4228
Series E-ISSN: 2365-4236
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XV, 295
Number of Illustrations: 19 b/w illustrations
Topics: Philosophy of Science, Physical Chemistry, Elementary Particles, Quantum Field Theory, Polymer Sciences, Ontology