DOCSLIB.ORG

Continuum Companion to Philosophy of Science/Edited by Steven French and Juha Saatsi

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Continuum Companion to Philosophy of Science/Edited by Steven French and Juha Saatsi The Continuum Companion to the Philosophy of Science The Continuum Companions series is a major series of single volume compan- ions to key research fi elds in the humanities, aimed at postgraduate students, scholars and libraries. Each companion offers a comprehensive reference resource giving an overview of key topics, research areas, new directions and a manageable guide to beginning or developing research in the fi eld. A dis- tinctive feature of the series is that each companion provides practical guid- ance on advanced study and research in the fi eld, including research methods and subject-specifi c resources. The Continuum Companion to Continental Philosophy Edited by John Mullarkey and Beth Lord The Continuum Companion to Locke Edited by S.-J. Savonious-Wroth, Paul Schuurman and Jonathan Walmsley The Continuum Companion to Philosophy of Mind Edited by James Garvey Forthcoming in Philosophy: The Continuum Companion to Aesthetics Edited by Anna Christina Ribeiro The Continuum Companion to Berkeley Edited by Bertil Belfrage and Richard Brook The Continuum Companion to Epistemology Edited by Andrew Cullison The Continuum Companion to Ethics Edited by Christian Miller The Continuum Companion to Existentialism Edited by Jack Reynolds, Felicity Joseph and Ashley Woodward The Continuum Companion to Hegel Edited by Allegra de Laurentiis and Jeffrey Edwards The Continuum Companion to Hobbes Edited by S. A. Lloyd The Continuum Companion to Hume Edited by Alan Bailey and Dan O’Brien The Continuum Companion to Kant Edited by Gary Banham, Nigel Hems and Dennis Schulting The Continuum Companion to Leibniz Edited by Brendan Look The Continuum Companion to Metaphysics Edited by Robert Barnard and Neil A. Manson The Continuum Companion to Political Philosophy Edited by Andrew Fiala and Matt Matravers The Continuum Companion to Plato Edited by Gerald A. Press The Continuum Companion to Pragmatism Edited by Sami Pihlström The Continuum Companion to Socrates Edited by John Bussanich and Nicholas D. Smith The Continuum Companion to Spinoza Edited by Wiep van Bunge The Continuum Companion to Philosophy of Language Edited by Manuel Garcia-Carpintero and Max Kolbel This page intentionally left blank The Continuum Companion to the Philosophy of Science Edited by Steven French and Juha Saatsi Continuum International Publishing Group The Tower Building 80 Maiden Lane 11 York Road Suite 704 London SE1 7NX New York, NY 10038 www.continuumbooks.com © Steven French, Juha Saatsi, 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN: HB: 978-1-4411-8761-1 Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data The Continuum companion to philosophy of science/edited by Steven French and Juha Saatsi. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4411-8761-1 1. Science–Philosophy. I. French, Steven. II. Saatsi, Juha. III. Title: Companion to philosophy of science. Q175.C6938 2011 501–dc22 2010044129 Typeset by Newgen Imaging Systems Pvt Ltd, Chennai, India Printed and bound in Great Britain Contents Contributors ix 1 Introduction 1 Steven French and Juha Saatsi Part I: Philosophy of Science in Context 2 Philosophy of Science and Epistemology 15 Alexander Bird 3 Philosophy of Science and Metaphysics 33 Craig Callender 4 Philosophy of Science and the History of Science 55 Don Howard Part II: Current Research and Issues A. General Issues in Philosophy of Science 5 Scientifi c Realism with a Humean Face 75 Stathis Psillos 6 Causation and the Sciences 96 Ned Hall 7 Scientifi c Models and Representation 120 Gabriele Contessa 8 Reduction, Multiple Realizability and Levels of Reality 138 Sven Walter and Markus Eronen 9 Explanation 157 Henk W. de Regt 10 Scientifi c Evidence 179 Malcolm R. Forster 11 Bayesian Confi rmation Theory 197 James Hawthorne vii Contents B. Philosophy of Particular Sciences 12 Philosophy of Physics 221 Nick Huggett 13 Philosophy of Biology 246 Ingo Brigandt 14 Towards a Mechanistic Philosophy of Neuroscience 268 Carl F. Craver and David M. Kaplan 15 Philosophy of Chemistry 293 Robin Findlay Hendry 16 Philosophy of Mathematics 314 Christopher Pincock Part III: Past and Future 17 Travelling in New Directions 337 Steven French and Juha Saatsi 18 A Brief Chronology of the Philosophy of Science 359 Peter Vickers Part IV: Resources 19 Annotated Bibliography 383 20 Research Resources 406 21 A–Z of Key Terms and Concepts 412 Index 439 viii Contributors Alexander Bird Professor Department of Philosophy University of Bristol Bristol, UK Ingo Brigandt Assistant Professor Department of Philosophy University of Alberta Edmonton, Canada Craig Callender Professor of Philosophy Department of Philosophy University of California San Diego, CA, US Gabriele Contessa Assistant Professor Department of Philosophy Carleton University OĴ awa, Canada Carl F. Craver Associate Professor Department of Philosophy Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO, US Henk W. de Regt Associate Professor Faculty of Philosophy VU University of Amsterdam Amsterdam, The Netherlands ix Contributors Markus Eronen Junior Fellow HWK Institute for Advanced Study Delmenhorst, Germany Malcolm R. Forster Professor of Philosophy University of Wisconsin–Madison Madison, WI, US and Professor, Institute for Science, Technology, and Society, Tsinghua University, China Steven French Professor of Philosophy of Science Department of Philosophy University of Leeds Leeds, UK Ned Hall Professor Department of Philosophy Harvard University Cambridge, MA, US James Hawthorne Associate Professor Department of Philosophy University of Oklahoma Norman, OK, US Robin Findlay Hendry Reader Department of Philosophy Durham University Durham, UK x Contributors Don Howard Professor of Philosophy Department of Philosophy and Program in History and Philosophy of Science University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN, US Nick HuggeĴ Professor Department of Philosophy University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL, US David M. Kaplan Adjunct Professor Department of Philosophy Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO, US Christopher Pincock Associate Professor Department of Philosophy Purdue University West LafayeĴ e, IN, US Stathis Psillos Professor of Philosophy of Science and Metaphysics Department of Philosophy and History of Science University of Athens Athens, Greece Juha Saatsi Lecturer Department of Philosophy University of Leeds Leeds, UK xi Contributors Peter Vickers Postdoctoral Fellow Center for Philosophy of Science University of PiĴ sburgh PiĴ sburgh, PA, US Sven Walter Professor of Philosophy of Mind Institute of Cognitive Science University of Osnabrück Osnabrück, Germany xii 1 Introduction Steven French and Juha Saatsi This Companion provides an up-to-date overview of the philosophy of science, its central issues and its place in a wider disciplinary context. The essays in Part I, ‘Philosophy of Science in Context’, discuss the place of philosophy of science in relation to the rest of philosophy, to science itself and to the history of science. The essays in Part II, ‘Current Research and Issues’, cover many of the discipline’s key debates as conducted today, both in general philosophy of science as well as in regard to particular sciences. Then, Part III, ‘Past and Future’, gazes ahead by refl ecting on trends and new issues, emerg- ing both from the contributions included here and also more generally. The whole volume is forward-looking in fl avour, with the aim of indicating exciting new research that is ‘hot’ today, and probably even more so tomor- row. This forward-looking emphasis distinguishes the present Companion from the other companions and encyclopaedias on the market. For the sake of completeness and for the volume to serve as a study aid, there is also ‘A Brief Chronology of the Philosophy of Science’, and Part IV, ‘Resources’, that includes ‘A-Z of Key Terms and Concepts’, ‘Annotated Bibliography’, and ‘Research Resources’. Before we turn to an overview of the individual chapters and some of their interconnections, a few general words about philosophy of science and its disciplinary status are in order. As a discipline in its own right, it is a com- parative newcomer, emerging with its own journals, conferences and so forth only in the past 80 years or so. However, its roots go back much further, in scientists’ own refl ections on what they were doing and also in the fact that many philosophers, ever since Aristotle, have taken science to fall within their purview.1 Broadly speaking, philosophy of science covers issues such as the methodology of science, including the role of evidence and observation; the nature of scientifi c theories and how they relate to the world; and the overall aims of science. It also embraces the philosophies of particular sciences, such as biology, chemistry, physics and neuroscience, and considers the implica- tions of these for such issues as the nature of space-time, the mind-body problem, and the foundations of evolution. Throughout its development, its relationships with other disciplines and research programmes, both in philosophy and in the history of science, have 1 The Continuum Companion to the Philosophy of Science been under scrutiny. For example, in the mid-1980s, the philosophy of
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Philosophy of Science and Philosophy of Chemistry
    Philosophy of Science and Philosophy of Chemistry Jaap van Brakel Abstract: In this paper I assess the relation between philosophy of chemistry and (general) philosophy of science, focusing on those themes in the philoso- phy of chemistry that may bring about major revisions or extensions of cur- rent philosophy of science. Three themes can claim to make a unique contri- bution to philosophy of science: first, the variety of materials in the (natural and artificial) world; second, extending the world by making new stuff; and, third, specific features of the relations between chemistry and physics. Keywords : philosophy of science, philosophy of chemistry, interdiscourse relations, making stuff, variety of substances . 1. Introduction Chemistry is unique and distinguishes itself from all other sciences, with respect to three broad issues: • A (variety of) stuff perspective, requiring conceptual analysis of the notion of stuff or material (Sections 4 and 5). • A making stuff perspective: the transformation of stuff by chemical reaction or phase transition (Section 6). • The pivotal role of the relations between chemistry and physics in connection with the question how everything fits together (Section 7). All themes in the philosophy of chemistry can be classified in one of these three clusters or make contributions to general philosophy of science that, as yet , are not particularly different from similar contributions from other sci- ences (Section 3). I do not exclude the possibility of there being more than three clusters of philosophical issues unique to philosophy of chemistry, but I am not aware of any as yet. Moreover, highlighting the issues discussed in Sections 5-7 does not mean that issues reviewed in Section 3 are less im- portant in revising the philosophy of science.
    [Show full text]
  • Optimistic Realism About Scientific Progress
    Optimistic Realism about Scientific Progress Ilkka Niiniluoto ABSTRACT: Scientific realists use the “no miracle argument” to show that the empirical and pragmatic success of science is an indicator of the ability of scientific theories to give true or truthlike representations of unobservable reality. While antirealists define scientific progress in terms of empirical success or practical problem-solving, realists characterize progress by using some truth-related criteria. This paper defends the definition of scientific progress as increasing truthlikeness or verisimilitude. Antirealists have tried to rebut realism with the “pessimistic metainduction”, but critical realists turn this argument into an optimistic view about progressive science. KEYWORDS: conceptual pluralism, fallibilism, no miracle argument, pessimistic metainduction, scientific realism, truthlikeness 1. Varieties of Scientific Realism Scientific realism as a philosophical position has (i) ontological, (ii) semantical, (iii) epistemological, (iv) theoretical, and (v) methodological aspects (see Niiniluoto 1999a; Psillos 1999). It holds that (i) at least part of reality is ontologically independent of human mind and culture. It takes (ii) truth to involve a non-epistemic relation between language and reality. It claims that (iii) knowledge about mind-independent (as well as mind-dependent) reality is possible, and that (iv) the best and deepest part of such knowledge is provided by empirically testable scientific theories. An important aim of science is (v) to find true and informative theories which postulate non-observable entities and laws to explain observable phenomena. Scientific realism became a tenable stance in the philosophy of science in the 1950s as an alternative to empiricist views which reduced theories to the observational language (Ernst Mach’s positivism) or restricted scientific knowledge to the level of observational statements by denying that theoretical statements have truth values (Pierre Duhem’s instrumentalism).
    [Show full text]
  • THE EPISTEMOLOGICAL AUTONOMY of CHEMISTRY By
    THE EPISTEMOLOGICAL AUTONOMY OF CHEMISTRY By ROBIN PFLUGHAUPT Integrated Studies Project submitted to Dr. Russell Thompson in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts – Integrated Studies Athabasca, Alberta November, 2009 THE EPISTEMOLOGICAL AUTONOMY OF CHEMISTRY 2 Abstract The “logicians’ program” or attempt to situate scientific methodology within a logical framework has come to a standstill following radical developments within the philosophy of science and science and technology studies. One of the most persistent concepts remaining from the traditional philosophy of science or logical empiricism however is the unification of science through the reducibility of chemical and biological phenomena to physical laws and explanations. Towards the end of the 19th century, chemistry underwent a physical revolution in order to describe dynamic processes and express chemical phenomena mathematically, and developments within quantum mechanics during the 1920s encouraged the assumption that chemistry is fully reducible to physics. Theoretical chemistry is briefly overviewed to reveal that quantum chemistry developed through the assistance of models developed within the “organic structuralist tradition” and empirical data to generate abstract approximations that are cumbersome to calculate. From these approximations, however chemists have produced powerful models, in particular molecular orbitals, that have become invaluable conceptual tools within chemistry since they “black box” quantum mechanical calculations and rationalize chemical processes. Despite shared ontology between physics and chemistry, since it is impossibly cumbersome to fully explain chemical phenomena at the particle level, there is the appearance of “emergentism” at the molecular level, and physics does not capture chemistry’s engineering ideology and “disciplinary matrices”, philosophical concepts including “supervenience” have been used to argue for the epistemological autonomy of chemistry.
    [Show full text]
  • Kant's Critique of Judgment and the Scientific Investigation of Matter
    Kant’s Critique of Judgment and the Scientific Investigation of Matter Daniel Rothbart, Irmgard Scherer Abstract: Kant’s theory of judgment establishes the conceptual framework for understanding the subtle relationships between the experimental scientist, the modern instrument, and nature’s atomic particles. The principle of purposive- ness which governs judgment has also a role in implicitly guiding modern experimental science. In Part 1 we explore Kant’s philosophy of science as he shows how knowledge of material nature and unobservable entities is possible. In Part 2 we examine the way in which Kant’s treatment of judgment, with its operating principle of purposiveness, enters into his critical project and under- lies the possibility of rational science. In Part 3 we show that the centrality given to judgment in Kant’s conception of science provides philosophical in- sight into the investigation of atomic substances in modern chemistry. Keywords : Kant , judgment , purposiveness , experimentation , investigation of matter . Introduction Kant’s philosophy of science centers on the problem of how it is possible to acquire genuine knowledge of unobservable entities, such as atoms and molecules. “What and how much can the understanding and reason know apart from all experience?” ( CPuR , Axvii). This raises the question of the role of experiments in the knowability ( Erkennbarkeit ) and the experientiality (Erfahrbarkeit ) of nature. Kant’s insights into the character of scientific experimentation are not given the hearing they deserve. We argue that Kant’s theory of judgment establishes the conceptual framework for understanding the subtle inter- actions between the experimental chemist, the modern chemical instrument, and molecular substance.
    [Show full text]
  • On Moral Understanding
    COMMENTTHE COLLEGE NEWSLETTER ISSUE NO 147 | MAY 2003 TOM WHIPPS On Moral Understanding DNA pioneers: The surviving members of the King’s team, who worked on the discovery of the structure of DNA 50 years ago, withDavid James Watson, K Levytheir Cambridge ‘rival’ at the time. From left Ray Gosling, Herbert Wilson, DNA at King’s: DepartmentJames Watson and of Maurice Philosophy Wilkins King’s College the continuing story University of London Prize for his contribution – and A day of celebrations their teams, but also to subse- quent generations of scientists at ver 600 guests attended a cant scientific discovery of the King’s. unique day of events celeb- 20th century,’ in the words of Four Nobel Laureates – Mau- Orating King’s role in the 50th Principal Professor Arthur Lucas, rice Wilkins, James Watson, Sid- anniversary of the discovery of the ‘and their research changed ney Altman and Tim Hunt – double helix structure of DNA on the world’. attended the event which was so 22 April. The day paid tribute not only to oversubscribed that the proceed- Scientists at King’s played a King’s DNA pioneers Rosalind ings were relayed by video link to fundamental role in this momen- Franklin and Maurice Wilkins – tous discovery – ‘the most signifi- who went onto win the Nobel continued on page 2 2 Funding news | 3 Peace Operations Review | 5 Widening participation | 8 25 years of Anglo-French law | 11 Margaret Atwood at King’s | 12 Susan Gibson wins Rosalind Franklin Award | 15 Focus: School of Law | 16 Research news | 18 Books | 19 KCLSU election results | 20 Arts abcdef U N I V E R S I T Y O F L O N D O N A C C O M M O D A T I O N O F F I C E ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION - FINDING SOMEWHERE TO LIVE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy WARNING: Under no circumstances inshould the this University document be of taken London as providing legal advice.
    [Show full text]
  • Models, Perspectives, and Scientific Realism
    MODELS, PERSPECTIVES, AND SCIENTIFIC REALISM: ON RONALD GIERE'S PERSPECTIVAL REALISM A thesis submitted to Kent State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Brian R. Huth May, 2014 Thesis written by Brian R. Huth B.A., Kent State University 2012 M.A., Kent State University 2014 Approved by Frank X. Ryan, Advisor Linda Williams, Chair, Department of Philosophy James L. Blank, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................. iv INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER I. FROM THE RECEIVED VIEW TO THE MODEL-THEORETIC VIEW........................................................................................................... 7 Section 1.1.................................................................................................... 9 Section 1.2.................................................................................................... 16 II. RONALD GIERE'S CONSTRUCTIVISM AND PERSPECTIVAL REALISM.................................................................................................... 25 Section 2.1.................................................................................................... 25 Section 2.2.................................................................................................... 31 Section 2.3...................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Philosophy of Chemistry: an Emerging Field with Implications for Chemistry Education
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 434 811 SE 062 822 AUTHOR Erduran, Sibel TITLE Philosophy of Chemistry: An Emerging Field with Implications for Chemistry Education. PUB DATE 1999-09-00 NOTE 10p.; Paper presented at the History, Philosophy and Science Teaching Conference (5th, Pavia, Italy, September, 1999). PUB TYPE Opinion Papers (120) Speeches/Meeting Papers (150) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Chemistry; Educational Change; Foreign Countries; Higher Education; *Philosophy; Science Curriculum; *Science Education; *Science Education History; *Science History; Scientific Principles; Secondary Education; Teaching Methods ABSTRACT Traditional applications of history and philosophy of science in chemistry education have concentrated on the teaching and learning of "history of chemistry". This paper considers the recent emergence of "philosophy of chemistry" as a distinct field and explores the implications of philosophy of chemistry for chemistry education in the context of teaching and learning chemical models. This paper calls for preventing the mutually exclusive development of chemistry education and philosophy of chemistry, and argues that research in chemistry education should strive to learn from the mistakes that resulted when early developments in science education were made separate from advances in philosophy of science. Contains 54 references. (Author/WRM) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** 1 PHILOSOPHY OF CHEMISTRY: AN EMERGING FIELD WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR CHEMISTRY EDUCATION PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS Office of Educational Research and improvement BEEN GRANTED BY RESOURCES INFORMATION SIBEL ERDURAN CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproducedas ceived from the person or organization KING'S COLLEGE, UNIVERSITYOF LONDON originating it.
    [Show full text]
  • The American Philosophical Association PACIFIC DIVISION EIGHTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING PROGRAM
    The American Philosophical Association PACIFIC DIVISION EIGHTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING PROGRAM WESTIN GASLAMP QUARTER AND U.S. GRANT HOTEL SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA APRIL 16 – 20, 2014 : new books for spring HUMOR AND THE GOOD LIFE REPRODUCTION, RACE, IN MODERN PHILOSOPHY AND GENDER IN PHILOSOPHY Shaftesbury, Hamann, Kierkegaard AND THE EARLY LIFE SCIENCES Lydia B. Amir Susanne Lettow, editor (February) (March) PHILOSOPHIZING AD INFINITUM LEO STRAUSS AND THE CRISIS infinite Nature, infinite Philosophy OF RATIONALISM Marcel Conche Another Reason, Another Enlightenment Laurent Ledoux and Corine Pelluchon Herman G. Bonne, translators Robert Howse, translator Foreword by J. Baird Callicott (February) (June) NIHILISM AND METAPHYSICS HABITATIONS OF THE VEIL The Third Voyage Metaphor and the Poetics of Black Being Vittorio Possenti in African American Literature Daniel B. Gallagher, translator Rebecka Rutledge Fisher Foreword by Brian Schroeder (May) (April) THE LAWS OF THE SPIRIT LACan’s etHics and nietzscHe’s A Hegelian Theory of Justice CRITIQUE OF PLATONISM Shannon Hoff Tim Themi (April) (May) AFTER LEO STRAUSS EMPLOTTING VIRTUE New Directions in Platonic A Narrative Approach Political Philosophy to Environmental Virtue Ethics Tucker Landy Brian Treanor (June) (June) LIVING ALTERITIES FEMINIST PHENOMENOLOGY Phenomenology, Embodiment, and Race AND MEDICINE Emily S. Lee, editor Kristin Zeiler and (April) Lisa Folkmarson Käll, editors (April) LUCE IRIGARAY’s PHenomenoLOGY OF FEMININE BEING Please visit our website for information Virpi Lehtinen on our philosophy journals. (June) SPECIAL EVENTS Only registrants are entitled to attend the reception on April 17 at no additional charge. Non-registrants, such as spouses, partners, or family members of meeting attendees, who wish to accompany a registrant to this reception must purchase a $10 guest ticket; guest tickets are available at the reception door as well as in advance at the registration desk.
    [Show full text]
  • Bridging the Philosophies of Biology and Chemistry
    CALL FOR PAPERS First International Conference on Bridging the Philosophies of Biology and Chemistry 25-27 June 2019 University of Paris Diderot, France Extended Deadline for Abstract Submission: 28 February 2019 The aim of this conference is to bring philosophers of biology and philosophers of chemistry together and to explore common grounds and topics of interest. We particularly welcome papers on (1) the philosophy of interdisciplinary fields between biology and chemistry; (2) historical case studies on the disciplinary divergence and convergence of biology and chemistry; and (3) the similarities and differences between philosophical approaches to biology and chemistry. Philosophy is broadly construed and includes epistemological, methodological, ontological, metaphysical, ethical, political, and legal issues of science. For a detailed description of possible topics, please see below and visit the conference website http://www.sphere.univ-paris-diderot.fr/spip.php?article2228&lang=en Instructions for Abstract Submission Submit a Word file including author name(s), affiliation, paper title, and an abstract of maximum 500 words by 28 February 2019 to Jean-Pierre Llored ([email protected]) . Registration If you are interested in participating, please register by sending an e-mail to Jean-Pierre Llored ([email protected]) before 30 April 2019. Venue Room 454A, Building Condorcet, University Paris Diderot, 4, rue Elsa Morante, 75013 Paris, France Sponsors CNRS; Laboratory SPHERE, Laboratory LIED, and Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Paris Diderot; Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie; Free University of Brussels; University of Lille Organizers Cécilia Bognon, Quentin Hiernaux, Jean-Pierre Llored, Joachim Schummer First international Conference on Bridging the Philosophies of Biology and Chemistry 25-27 June 2019, University of Paris Diderot, France Description Background For much of the twentieth century, philosophy of science had almost exclusively been focused on physics and mathematics.
    [Show full text]
  • How Scientific Is Chemistry?
    How Scientific is Chemistry? Sebastian Kozuch Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 841051, Israel. [email protected] To my father, who loves philosophy and science, but is not really engaged into philosophy of science. Abstract ϕ for philosophy, χ for chemistry. Is there a connection? Is there any interaction? Do chemists have something useful to learn from philosophers? Do philosophers from chemists? How can we define if chemistry is a science, or at least trustworthy? Which disciplines, styles and personalities are progressive in chemistry? Which ones are truth-seekers, progress-seekers or profit-seekers? Is there a point in asking these questions? Is there even an answer to them? Introduction composing it in a light tone, with more interest in presenting an overall idea and having an amusing reading than in seeking for Yes, of course chemistry is a science. That is beyond the point. accuracy or completeness (this is for you, reviewer two! 1). In The question is not if it is a science, but how good a science is it. doing so, and slightly in the style of some renaissance discussion Or, as we can put it, what is the scientificity level of chemistry, a books, I will introduce two characters that will aid in the depiction term defined as the degree or quality of the discipline or project of concepts and viewpoints: Tris the Chemist, and her workmate, (compare to “viscosity”, “luminosity” or “exergonicity”). To be clear, Kris the Chemist. Tris and Kris will act as different persons on in some sense chemistry might even be considered the top each section, always contradicting the other, always showing a science: It does not confront the complete unknown solely with different style of chemists, always believing their way is the best statistical analysis, such as in many areas of life sciences, and it way (any similarity to actual persons is purely coincidental; or does not participate in purely esoterical mathematics, such as in maybe not).
    [Show full text]
  • Causal Explanation and the Periodic Table
    Synthese https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-018-01982-0 Causal explanation and the periodic table Lauren N. Ross1 Received: 3 December 2017 / Accepted: 8 October 2018 © Springer Nature B.V. 2018 Abstract The periodic table represents and organizes all known chemical elements on the basis of their properties. While the importance of this table in chemistry is uncontroversial, the role that it plays in scientific reasoning remains heavily disputed. Many philosophers deny the explanatory role of the table and insist that it is “merely” classificatory (Shapere, in F. Suppe (Ed.) The structure of scientific theories, University of Illinois Press, Illinois, 1977; Scerri in Erkenntnis 47:229–243, 1997). In particular, it has been claimed that the table does not figure in causal explanation because it “does not reveal causal structure” (Woody in Science after the practice turn in the philosophy, history, and social studies of science, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, New York, 2014). This paper provides an analysis of what it means to say that a scientific figure reveals causal structure and it argues that the modern periodic table does just this. It also clarifies why these “merely” classificatory claims have seemed so compelling–this is because these claims often focus on the earliest periodic tables, which lack the causal structure present in modern versions. Keywords Causation · Explanation · Philosophy of chemistry · Classification · Causal reasoning 1 Introduction To the extent that there is a trademark figure for the field of chemistry it is surely the periodic table. Considered by many to capture the “essence” of this scientific domain, the periodic table represents and organizes all known chemical elements on the basis of their properties (Scerri 2007, p.
    [Show full text]
  • What Would It Mean to Directly Observe Electrons?
    WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO DIRECTLY OBSERVE ELECTRONS? DAVID MITSUO NIXON University of Washington Abstract In this paper it is argued that a proper understanding of the justification of perceptual beliefs leaves open the possibility that normal humans, unaided by microscopes, could genuinely know, by direct observation, of the existence of a theoretical entity like an electron. A particular theory of justification called perceptual responsibilism is presented. If successful, this kind of view would undercut one line of argument that has been given (for example, by Bas van Fraassen) in support of scientific anti-realism. Various objections to the idea that electrons can be directly observed are also considered. Scientific anti-realism is, roughly, the view that we are not justified in believing in the existence of theoretical entities—of which I take elec- trons to be a paradigm example. Such a view obviously relies on the distinction between things that are directly observable and things that are not, where theoretical entities would fall into the latter category. In this paper I will argue against this distinction—at least in the sense in which it is required by scientific anti-realism. I will argue that (so- called) theoretical entities like electrons can be observed by normal humans. In taking aim at scientific anti-realism, I will primarily have in mind its leading proponent, Bas van Fraassen. But it is important to keep in mind that while my narrow concern in this paper is the issue of the justification of observational beliefs, van Fraassen’s constructive em- piricism encompasses much more than that.
    [Show full text]