About this item
Highlights
- Ruthenberg highlights the unique aspects of chemistry, specifically its metachemical fundamentals, which have been largely overlooked in current philosophies of science.
- About the Author: Klaus Ruthenberg, Coburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany.
- 307 Pages
- Philosophy, History & Surveys
Description
About the Book
The author takes an approach of an integrated history and philosophy of science to identify the distinctive features of chemistry, that is its metachemical fundamentals. These features have been largely disregarded in current philosophies of scienceBook Synopsis
Ruthenberg highlights the unique aspects of chemistry, specifically its metachemical fundamentals, which have been largely overlooked in current philosophies of science. Conventional metaphysics, derived from or focused on theoretical physics, is inadequate when applied to chemistry. The author examines and integrates historical and philosophical perspectives on important aspects of chemistry, including affinity, compositionism, emergence, synthesis/analysis, atomism/non-atomism, chemical species, chemical bond, chemical concepts, plurality, temporality/potentiality, reactivity, and underdetermination. To accomplish this, he draws on the works of notable chemists such as Frantisek Wald, Wilhelm Ostwald, Friedrich Paneth, and Hans Primas, who have contributed to the philosophical understanding of chemistry. The central conclusion of this study aligns with Immanuel Kant's viewpoint: Chemistry is a systematic art.
About the Author
Klaus Ruthenberg, Coburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany.