Philosophy of Chemistry

Philosophy of Chemistry investigates the foundational concepts and methods of chemistry, the science of the nature of substances and their transformations. This groundbreaking collection, the most thorough treatment of the philosophy of chemistry ever published, brings together philosophers, scientists and historians to map out the central topics in the field. The 33 articles address the history of the philosophy of chemistry and the philosophical importance of some central figures in the history of chemistry; the nature of chemical substances; central chemical concepts and methods, including the chemical bond, the periodic table and reaction mechanisms; and chemistry’s relationship to other disciplines such as physics, molecular biology, pharmacy and chemical engineering. This volume serves as a detailed introduction for those new to the field as well as a rich source of new insights and potential research agendas for those already engaged with the philosophy of chemistry.

Part 1. Introduction Introduction

Part 2. History of the Philosophy of Chemistry Prehistory of the Philosophy of Chemistry Robert Boyle (1627–1691) Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) Antoine Lavoisier (1743–1794) John Dalton (1766–1844) Dmitrii Ivanovich Mendeleev (1834–1907) Josiah Willard Gibbs (1839–1903) Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald (1853-1932) Pierre Duhem (1861–1916) Frantiˇsek Wald (1861–1930) G. N. Lewis (1875–1946) Gaston Bachelard (1884–1962) Linus Pauling (1901–1994) Charles Coulson (1910–1974) Ilya Prigogine (1917–2003)

Part 3. Chemical Substances Ancient Theories of Chemical Substance Substances: The Ontology of Chemistry Modality, Mereology and Substance Elements Compounds and Mixtures

Part 4. Chemical Concepts and Methods Chemical Bond Mechanisms and Chemical Reaction The Periodic Table Laws in Chemistry Chemical Modeling

Part 5. Chemistry and Physics Reduction, Emergence and Physicalism Atoms and Molecules in Classical Chemistry and Quantum Mechanics Concept Amalgamation and Representation in Quantum Chemistry Thermodynamics in Chemistry Entropy in Chemistry

Part 6. Chemistry and Other Disciplines Chemistry and Molecular Biology Chemistry and Pharmacy: A Philosophical Inquiry into an Evolving Relationship Chemical Engineering Science