that become a basis of corresponding authentic scientific discipline. Thus, the units
of subject-oriented sciences with new characteristic emergent properties can be
described and represented by using new emergent laws, which shape a conceptual
system of particular authentic science.
In general, many of observed properties of substances are holistic. Let us take as
example the contraction of volume of a mixture of liquids. The volume of the
mixture obtained by mixing of 1 L of water and 1L of ethyl alcohol is less than two
litters. The extent of such volume contraction is unpredictable from the knowledge
about the properties of pure water and pure ethyl alcohol, it can only be found by
measuring the volume after mixing. Thus, the volume contraction is an emergent
property!
In summary, the interpretation of Universe formed through long history should
be holistic. Thus, this interpretation is level-like, and it is divided in particular fields
of knowledge such as scientific disciplines, or, from the other hand, artistic visions
of the Universe and the surrounding world. However, we have to accept the fact,
that the properties and structural organizations of the substance on the higher level
of complexity are consequences of the properties of subunits on the lower level of
complexity [11]. For instance, if the charge of electron and its fermionic property
would be different than it is, this would reshape all the observed nature. From this
point of view, the nature is reductionistic and explainable with causal bottom-up
relationship: every variation on the lower level causes changes on the higher level
of complexity. Or, the nature on the higher complexity level is causally related to
the nature on the lower complexity level. Such reductionism is generally accepted,
it is called ontological reductionism (omso1 is being per se). Ontological reductionism is self-evident, so chemistry and complexity-higher sciences are in this
sense reducible to physics. Why is chemistry nevertheless not a special case of
physics? Such contradiction could be solved starting with the fact that emergent
properties can only be described by special laws, which cannot be derived from
physical laws. Analogously, biological laws of inheritance or reactions on environment cannot be reduced to chemical laws, for instance to Dalton’s law of
gravimetry or to the laws of organic reaction mechanisms. It would be very difficult
even to imagine that the principles of organic synthesis are derivable from
Schrödinger equation.
Intertwining of the holistic and the reductionistic aspect can be considered within
the categories of cause and effect by taking into account the assumption that the
appearances on the lower complexity level are causes of the appearances on the
higher level of complexity, but not vice versa!
1 For example, the electronic
structure of the molecule of the natural organic compound indigo is the cause that
the substance indigo is coloured blue-violet (the emergent property). However, the
same colour can also be property of other substances that consist from the
1#
This statement will be relativized in the XIII chapter of this book.
4
1 Chemistry and Philosophy of Science
of subject-oriented sciences with new characteristic emergent properties can be
described and represented by using new emergent laws, which shape a conceptual
system of particular authentic science.
In general, many of observed properties of substances are holistic. Let us take as
example the contraction of volume of a mixture of liquids. The volume of the
mixture obtained by mixing of 1 L of water and 1L of ethyl alcohol is less than two
litters. The extent of such volume contraction is unpredictable from the knowledge
about the properties of pure water and pure ethyl alcohol, it can only be found by
measuring the volume after mixing. Thus, the volume contraction is an emergent
property!
In summary, the interpretation of Universe formed through long history should
be holistic. Thus, this interpretation is level-like, and it is divided in particular fields
of knowledge such as scientific disciplines, or, from the other hand, artistic visions
of the Universe and the surrounding world. However, we have to accept the fact,
that the properties and structural organizations of the substance on the higher level
of complexity are consequences of the properties of subunits on the lower level of
complexity [11]. For instance, if the charge of electron and its fermionic property
would be different than it is, this would reshape all the observed nature. From this
point of view, the nature is reductionistic and explainable with causal bottom-up
relationship: every variation on the lower level causes changes on the higher level
of complexity. Or, the nature on the higher complexity level is causally related to
the nature on the lower complexity level. Such reductionism is generally accepted,
it is called ontological reductionism (omso1 is being per se). Ontological reductionism is self-evident, so chemistry and complexity-higher sciences are in this
sense reducible to physics. Why is chemistry nevertheless not a special case of
physics? Such contradiction could be solved starting with the fact that emergent
properties can only be described by special laws, which cannot be derived from
physical laws. Analogously, biological laws of inheritance or reactions on environment cannot be reduced to chemical laws, for instance to Dalton’s law of
gravimetry or to the laws of organic reaction mechanisms. It would be very difficult
even to imagine that the principles of organic synthesis are derivable from
Schrödinger equation.
Intertwining of the holistic and the reductionistic aspect can be considered within
the categories of cause and effect by taking into account the assumption that the
appearances on the lower complexity level are causes of the appearances on the
higher level of complexity, but not vice versa!
1 For example, the electronic
structure of the molecule of the natural organic compound indigo is the cause that
the substance indigo is coloured blue-violet (the emergent property). However, the
same colour can also be property of other substances that consist from the
1#
This statement will be relativized in the XIII chapter of this book.
4
1 Chemistry and Philosophy of Science