The Union of Chemistry and Physics
Linkages, Reduction, Theory Nets and Ontology
Authors: Hettema, Hinne
Free Preview- 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
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- About this book
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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.
- About the authors
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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.
- Table of contents (10 chapters)
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Reduction: Its Prospects and Limits
Pages 1-24
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Explaining the Chemical Bond: Idealisation and Concretisation
Pages 27-48
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Molecular Structure: What Philosophers Got Wrong
Pages 49-68
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Unity of Chemistry and Physics: The Theory of Absolute Reaction Rates
Pages 69-86
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Quantum Chemistry as a Research Programme
Pages 87-118
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Table of contents (10 chapters)
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Bibliographic Information
- 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
- Series Volume
- 7
- Copyright
- 2017
- Publisher
- Springer International Publishing
- Copyright Holder
- Springer International Publishing AG
- eBook ISBN
- 978-3-319-60910-2
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-3-319-60910-2
- Hardcover ISBN
- 978-3-319-60909-6
- Softcover ISBN
- 978-3-319-86957-5
- Series ISSN
- 2365-4228
- Edition Number
- 1
- Number of Pages
- XV, 295
- Number of Illustrations
- 19 b/w illustrations
- Topics
