Ask not what philosophy can do for chemistry but

Authors: Hasok Chang Alfred Nordmann Bernadette BensaudeVincent Jonathan Simon

Publish Date: 2010/04/21

Volume: 19, Issue: 3, Pages: 373-383

PDF Link

Abstract

In this book BensaudeVincent and Simon offer up a refreshing and innovative introduction to the history and philosophy of chemistry the like of which is not to be found anywhere in the extant literature to the best of my knowledge Right from the introduction the authors locate chemistry squarely in the material and social worlds of its practices and a sustained commitment to that contextualization gives their philosophical discourse a distinctive flavour Each chapter revolves around a conceptual theme instead of treating a specific chronological period or a particular area of chemistry and its application This thematic organization brings freshness and helps to shake up some standard assumptions and tropes What the authors give us is a series of interlinked essays rather than a systematic presentation but I think that is a strength in this case In my view the book gets better and better as it progresses partly because the authors seem more surefooted about the

Keywords: