Similarly, the system of type theory is also two-dimensional. The four structural
types (types of HCl, H 2 O, NH 3 , and CH 4 ) exemplify four different groups of quality
and the various compounds within the same structural type differ in quantity, i.e.
their chemical composition represented by Berzelius chemical formula.
10.1 Conclusions
It is argued how the combination of methods of classifications with quantitative
relations, as well as the use of analogy has led to the formulation of two most
important concepts in chemistry, structural theory and periodic system of chemical
elements. The structural theory and its representation with chemical formula and
chemical nomenclature is investigated also as a model for the discussion about
radical falsificationism proposed by Karl Popper. The case study about the structure
of benzene molecule has shown that although the proposed chemical formula is
logically inconsistent, it is still of a great scientific value. This problem in epistemology could be better comprised within the Quine-Duhem-Lakatos approach,
which somehow includes epistemic values in science.
References
1. Kekulé A (1857) Über die s. g. gepaarten Verbindungen und die Theorie der mehratomigen
Radicale, Ann. der Chemie und Pharmacie, p 9
2. Berson JA (2003) Chemical Discovery and the Logicians’ Program. Willey-VCH GmbH &
Co., Weinheim
3. Ladenburg A (1869) Bemerkungen zur aromatischen. Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen
Gesellschaft. 2:140–142
4. Curd M, Cover JA Eds. (1998) The Duhem thesis and the Quine thesis. In: Philosophy of
science: the central issues. Norton, New York, pp 302–319
5. Lakatos I (1989) The methodology of scientific research programs. In: Worral J, Currie G
(eds) Philosophical papers, vol 1. Cambridge University Press, NY
6. Dumas MJ (1857) Mémoire sur les équivalents des corps simples, Ann de chim et de phys,
p 129
7. Mendeleef DI (1889) The periodic law of the chemical elements. J Chem Soc 55:634
8. Scerri ER, Woral J (2001) Studies in history and philosophy of science, Part A 32:407–452
9. Duhem P (1991) (1914) The aim and structure of physical theory. Princeton University Press,
Princeton, NJ
10. Scerri ER (1997) the periodic table and the electron. Am Sci 85:546
102
10 Systematization, Classification, Structure, and Elements
types (types of HCl, H 2 O, NH 3 , and CH 4 ) exemplify four different groups of quality
and the various compounds within the same structural type differ in quantity, i.e.
their chemical composition represented by Berzelius chemical formula.
10.1 Conclusions
It is argued how the combination of methods of classifications with quantitative
relations, as well as the use of analogy has led to the formulation of two most
important concepts in chemistry, structural theory and periodic system of chemical
elements. The structural theory and its representation with chemical formula and
chemical nomenclature is investigated also as a model for the discussion about
radical falsificationism proposed by Karl Popper. The case study about the structure
of benzene molecule has shown that although the proposed chemical formula is
logically inconsistent, it is still of a great scientific value. This problem in epistemology could be better comprised within the Quine-Duhem-Lakatos approach,
which somehow includes epistemic values in science.
References
1. Kekulé A (1857) Über die s. g. gepaarten Verbindungen und die Theorie der mehratomigen
Radicale, Ann. der Chemie und Pharmacie, p 9
2. Berson JA (2003) Chemical Discovery and the Logicians’ Program. Willey-VCH GmbH &
Co., Weinheim
3. Ladenburg A (1869) Bemerkungen zur aromatischen. Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen
Gesellschaft. 2:140–142
4. Curd M, Cover JA Eds. (1998) The Duhem thesis and the Quine thesis. In: Philosophy of
science: the central issues. Norton, New York, pp 302–319
5. Lakatos I (1989) The methodology of scientific research programs. In: Worral J, Currie G
(eds) Philosophical papers, vol 1. Cambridge University Press, NY
6. Dumas MJ (1857) Mémoire sur les équivalents des corps simples, Ann de chim et de phys,
p 129
7. Mendeleef DI (1889) The periodic law of the chemical elements. J Chem Soc 55:634
8. Scerri ER, Woral J (2001) Studies in history and philosophy of science, Part A 32:407–452
9. Duhem P (1991) (1914) The aim and structure of physical theory. Princeton University Press,
Princeton, NJ
10. Scerri ER (1997) the periodic table and the electron. Am Sci 85:546
102
10 Systematization, Classification, Structure, and Elements