Of Minds and Molecules: New Philosophical Perspectives on ChemistryNalini Bhushan, Stuart Rosenfeld Of Minds and Molecules is the first anthology devoted exclusively to work in the philosophy of chemistry. The essays, written by both chemists and philosophers, adopt distinctive philosophical perspectives on chemistry and collectively offer both a conceptualization of and a justification for this emerging field. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 3 |
Autonomy and Antireductionism | 15 |
Missing Elements What Philosophers of Science Might Discover in Chemistry | 17 |
Laws and Theories in Chemistry Do Not Obey the Rules | 34 |
Realism Reduction and the Intermediate Position | 51 |
Instrumentation | 73 |
Substance and Function in Chemical Research | 75 |
Analytical Instrumentation and Instrumental Objectivity | 90 |
Butlerovs Vision The Timeless the Transientand the Representation of Chemical Structure | 143 |
The Nature of Chemical Substances | 162 |
Chemical Synthesis Complexity Similarity Natural Kinds and the Evolution of a Logic | 187 |
Models and Metaphors | 209 |
Models and Explanations Understanding Chemical Reaction Mechanisms | 211 |
How Symbolic and Iconic Languages Bridge the Two Worlds of the Chemist A Case Study from Contemporary Bioorganic Chemistry | 230 |
The Chemical Senses | 249 |
Archiving Odors | 251 |
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abstract elements analysis analytical chemistry antibody approximation argue atomic weight Baird behavior bond Brakel Cambridge causal chapter chem chemical reactions chemical synthesis chemists chirality claim complexity compounds concept Direct realism discussion dynamic electrons energy entities epistemological example experiment experimental explanation explanatory function fundamental human instrumental objectivity intermediate intrinsic isotopes issue istry Journal laboratory laws logical manifest image means Mendeleev ment methods microscopic models molecular orbital molecular shape molecular structure molecules Müller natural kinds nineteenth-century notion odor olfaction olfactory optical optical isomers organic Paneth particular periodic system phenomena philosophical philosophy of chemistry Philosophy of Science physics problem properties pure substance Quantum Chemistry quantum mechanics quantum theory question reaction coordinate realism reduction relations representation role Scerri scientific image sense similar simple substances smell space spatial specific spectroscopy supervenience synthesis synthetic techniques theoretical thermodynamics tion transition-state theory van't vision Weininger Woolley
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