structure of society, but also to the statements of philosophy of science. Clear
indicator of the disrespect of chemistry we can find already in statements of some of
the greatest philosophers. Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) divided science, in principle, in two categories: exact sciences and skills, say half-sciences [2]. By Kant,
exact sciences represent their concepts, laws, and theories by using mathematics,
because it is the mathematics that interprets the Kantian categories of mind: time
and space. All the other disciplines belong to a sort of mixture of skills and pure
empirical experiences. [14].Since in the time of Kant, the 18th century, chemistry
was almost entirely qualitative, it has evidently been categorized as a half-science or
just as a skill. However, in its later work, Danziger Physik (1785), Kant had
admitted that some of particular philosophical concepts could be properly
demonstrated by using analogy with chemical empirical laws [15]. Later, Kant has
also added the name of chemist Lavoisier on the same list with the names of
Archimedes and Newton! It should also be mentioned the personal contribution of
Kant directly to chemistry. Jeremias Benjamin Richter (1762–1807), defended
his dissertation about the application of mathematics in chemistry under the Kant’s
supervising at the University of Königsberg. Richter’s work was very influential on
the development of modern chemistry. This will be discussed in later lectures. As I
have already mentioned, Kant’s affinity to exact sciences based on mathematical
representations origins from his philosophical system of categories of mind [16].
Space and time as well as the principle of causality are innate categories. Since they
exist a priori in human mind, our cognition of the external world is possible.
Today, we would perhaps say that there could exist special genes bearers of the
time-space categories. Even some recent theories of cognition have revitalized,
although on different way, such Kantian approach. From the modern point of view,
the main disadvantage of Kant’s theory is not so much in the idea about the innate
categories of mind but rather in his concept of time and space used strongly within
the frame of the Newtonian and Cartesian physics and mathematical interpretation.
Such concepts of time and space are today very incomplete after the development of
relativistic theories and quantum mechanics.
About the possibility of mathematical representation of the perception of time
and space, in contrast to impossibility of mathematical representation of perception
of other sense data such as colour, heat or taste, I will discuss in lectures that follow.
Let us suppose that just the convenience of different senses to be interpreted
mathematically could be the main historical origin of the development of the
ancient proto-science in two directions, leading to physics and chemistry.
One of the classical philosophers who the best models for his metaphysical
concept has found in chemistry, was Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–
1831). Hegel has used the term “chemic” for the properties of entities that are not
absolute, but rather the properties which emerge only as a consequence of their
interaction with the environment [17].Thus, all the observable characteristics of
subjects are emergent! In addition, Hegel did not reject the idea about the innate
categories. Rather, he did not accept that these innate categories are time and space.
1 Chemistry and Philosophy of Science
9
indicator of the disrespect of chemistry we can find already in statements of some of
the greatest philosophers. Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) divided science, in principle, in two categories: exact sciences and skills, say half-sciences [2]. By Kant,
exact sciences represent their concepts, laws, and theories by using mathematics,
because it is the mathematics that interprets the Kantian categories of mind: time
and space. All the other disciplines belong to a sort of mixture of skills and pure
empirical experiences. [14].Since in the time of Kant, the 18th century, chemistry
was almost entirely qualitative, it has evidently been categorized as a half-science or
just as a skill. However, in its later work, Danziger Physik (1785), Kant had
admitted that some of particular philosophical concepts could be properly
demonstrated by using analogy with chemical empirical laws [15]. Later, Kant has
also added the name of chemist Lavoisier on the same list with the names of
Archimedes and Newton! It should also be mentioned the personal contribution of
Kant directly to chemistry. Jeremias Benjamin Richter (1762–1807), defended
his dissertation about the application of mathematics in chemistry under the Kant’s
supervising at the University of Königsberg. Richter’s work was very influential on
the development of modern chemistry. This will be discussed in later lectures. As I
have already mentioned, Kant’s affinity to exact sciences based on mathematical
representations origins from his philosophical system of categories of mind [16].
Space and time as well as the principle of causality are innate categories. Since they
exist a priori in human mind, our cognition of the external world is possible.
Today, we would perhaps say that there could exist special genes bearers of the
time-space categories. Even some recent theories of cognition have revitalized,
although on different way, such Kantian approach. From the modern point of view,
the main disadvantage of Kant’s theory is not so much in the idea about the innate
categories of mind but rather in his concept of time and space used strongly within
the frame of the Newtonian and Cartesian physics and mathematical interpretation.
Such concepts of time and space are today very incomplete after the development of
relativistic theories and quantum mechanics.
About the possibility of mathematical representation of the perception of time
and space, in contrast to impossibility of mathematical representation of perception
of other sense data such as colour, heat or taste, I will discuss in lectures that follow.
Let us suppose that just the convenience of different senses to be interpreted
mathematically could be the main historical origin of the development of the
ancient proto-science in two directions, leading to physics and chemistry.
One of the classical philosophers who the best models for his metaphysical
concept has found in chemistry, was Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–
1831). Hegel has used the term “chemic” for the properties of entities that are not
absolute, but rather the properties which emerge only as a consequence of their
interaction with the environment [17].Thus, all the observable characteristics of
subjects are emergent! In addition, Hegel did not reject the idea about the innate
categories. Rather, he did not accept that these innate categories are time and space.
1 Chemistry and Philosophy of Science
9