successfully applied in the definition of quality. By their «orthogonal» position to
the logics, protochemists have established new epistemology, which, through the
history, led to the basic knowledge about the microstructure of matter. The reasoning in analogies supposes the use of a referent visible property, again, the
quality. For instance, two substances could be considered as analogous if both
builds the same shape of crystals. In this case, the referent property is the shape. In
investigations of transmutations of metals the referent property was colour. Thus,
the transmutations that exchange the same colour are analogous. All “golden” is
gold! It is almost unimaginable that the science such as chemistry has developed
from logical contradictions and from the provisory such as analogy. Yet, the basic
chemical concepts, such as the structural theory and the periodic system of elements, have developed mostly by epistemology of analogies!
3.1 Conclusions
Although alchemy is in the most literature origins considered as a predecessor of
chemistry, in the history of science the activities that led to chemistry in the western
civilization appeared much earlier. In the Hellenistic Alexandria, the philosophies
of Plato and Aristotle were combined with the practice of craftsmen and with the
mystical spiritual experiences of Egypt and East. Aristotelian concept of transformation of substance has found its analogy in practical performance of transformations in metallurgy and in preparation of remedies. Transformations of the
substance in that way changed its role from practical to philosophical.
Philosophical experiment is born and the first activity similar to chemistry has
appeared—the Alexandrian proto-chemistry. Proto-chemical experiments have
manipulated qualities such as color, or heat or melts, the qualities that are not
measurable, in the contrast with the proto-physical theoretical concepts based on the
measurable time and space.
References
1. Grdenić D (2001) Povijest kemije, Liber, Zagreb (History of Chemistry, original in Croatian)
2. van Brakel J (2000) Philosophy of chemistry: between the manifest and the scientific image.
Leuven University Press, p 160
3. Greenberg AD (2000) Chemical history tour, picturing chemistry from alchemy to modern
molecular science. Wiley-Interscience, New York
4. Brock W (1992) The fontana history of chemistry. Fontana Press, London, 1992, p 16
3 Synthesis of Philosophy and Technology
37
the logics, protochemists have established new epistemology, which, through the
history, led to the basic knowledge about the microstructure of matter. The reasoning in analogies supposes the use of a referent visible property, again, the
quality. For instance, two substances could be considered as analogous if both
builds the same shape of crystals. In this case, the referent property is the shape. In
investigations of transmutations of metals the referent property was colour. Thus,
the transmutations that exchange the same colour are analogous. All “golden” is
gold! It is almost unimaginable that the science such as chemistry has developed
from logical contradictions and from the provisory such as analogy. Yet, the basic
chemical concepts, such as the structural theory and the periodic system of elements, have developed mostly by epistemology of analogies!
3.1 Conclusions
Although alchemy is in the most literature origins considered as a predecessor of
chemistry, in the history of science the activities that led to chemistry in the western
civilization appeared much earlier. In the Hellenistic Alexandria, the philosophies
of Plato and Aristotle were combined with the practice of craftsmen and with the
mystical spiritual experiences of Egypt and East. Aristotelian concept of transformation of substance has found its analogy in practical performance of transformations in metallurgy and in preparation of remedies. Transformations of the
substance in that way changed its role from practical to philosophical.
Philosophical experiment is born and the first activity similar to chemistry has
appeared—the Alexandrian proto-chemistry. Proto-chemical experiments have
manipulated qualities such as color, or heat or melts, the qualities that are not
measurable, in the contrast with the proto-physical theoretical concepts based on the
measurable time and space.
References
1. Grdenić D (2001) Povijest kemije, Liber, Zagreb (History of Chemistry, original in Croatian)
2. van Brakel J (2000) Philosophy of chemistry: between the manifest and the scientific image.
Leuven University Press, p 160
3. Greenberg AD (2000) Chemical history tour, picturing chemistry from alchemy to modern
molecular science. Wiley-Interscience, New York
4. Brock W (1992) The fontana history of chemistry. Fontana Press, London, 1992, p 16
3 Synthesis of Philosophy and Technology
37