Philosophy asks some fundamental and probing questions of itself. What is it? Why do we do it? What can it achieve? As a starting point, the word “philosophy” comes from the Greek words meaning a love of wisdom. And anyone who does it is trying to make sense of the world around them. In that way, philosophers are a bit like scientists.
But science is a big enough subject in itself, so warrants its very own branch of philosophy. And if we can break scientific inquiry down into various subjects, why not do the same with its philosophy? This is what has happened with the development of the Philosophy of Chemistry, a relatively young and niche field of philosophical investigation. It poses unique and interesting questions concerning both the kind of knowledge acquired in science, and the understanding of nature itself.
Some discussions within the philosophy of chemistry concern issues that are closely related to the philosophy of science. The ideas of explanation, laws of nature, and realism are investigated using the specific theories, concepts, methods and experimental tools of chemistry. It sounds complicated, and sometimes it is. But examining scientific theories such as quantum mechanics from a specifically chemistry focused standpoint can help clarify our wider understanding of scientific ideas. What exactly is a molecule? What do we mean when we say “chemical bond”? Can we predict and explain the behaviour of chemical matter within quantum mechanics? They are big questions, and benefit from a philosopher’s approach, breaking down assumptions and rules to their bare bones.
