If something is glowing in the closed space, the surrounding air receives also
phlogiston as addition, and it would be expected the increase of volume. This
phlogistonian prediction also did not passed the Popperian test of the refutability of
theory: in all the experiments with combustion in the closed container, the observations were opposite, the phlogisticated air had smaller volume than dephlogisticated air, namely for one fifth!
It is important to point out, that, in spite to the popularity of the phlogiston
theory, some scientists were occasionally more or less sceptical. Pierre-Joseph
Macquer (1718–1784) is, in his at that time very influential dictionary of chemistry, in doubt regarding the definition of phlogiston. Sometimes phlogiston is a
combination of air and fire, but sometimes phlogiston is only a sort of chemical
“method”.
The model system “combustion – air”, which played the crucial role in the
formation of new science, has not been chosen consciously by particular scientist.
Rather, it was the result of the particular circumstances in the historical development of scientific research. If this is true, than paradigmatic changes are mere a sort
of self-organization, a crystallization of new knowledges. It is not possible to
manage the development of science!
Phlogiston theory has also an additional disadvantage: it was not applicable for
the combustion of organic compounds, the substances from plant and animal origin.
Was this already the beginning of vitalist thought about the two different chemistries, chemistry of life, and chemistry of inorganic world?
6.1 Conclusions
By analyzing the appearance of the first scientific theory in chemistry, the phlogiston theory, I argue that focusing on the proper model system is crucial for
paradigmatic progress. For instance, for the discovery of quantum theory such
system was the black body radiation. For scientific revolution in chemistry, the
model system was the reaction of combustion.
References
1. Stahl GE (1715, 1740) Opusculum chymico-physico-medicum, Halle et Magdeburgiae
2. Kirwan R (1789) An essay on phlogiston and the constitution of acids, Reprint in 1968, Frank
Cass, London
3. Paušek-Baždar S (1994) Flogistonska teorija u Hrvata. HAZU, Zagreb (In Croatian)
4. Chang H (2010) The hidden history of phlogiston. HYLE 16:47
58
6 Conceptualization of Science and Experimental Model Systems
phlogiston as addition, and it would be expected the increase of volume. This
phlogistonian prediction also did not passed the Popperian test of the refutability of
theory: in all the experiments with combustion in the closed container, the observations were opposite, the phlogisticated air had smaller volume than dephlogisticated air, namely for one fifth!
It is important to point out, that, in spite to the popularity of the phlogiston
theory, some scientists were occasionally more or less sceptical. Pierre-Joseph
Macquer (1718–1784) is, in his at that time very influential dictionary of chemistry, in doubt regarding the definition of phlogiston. Sometimes phlogiston is a
combination of air and fire, but sometimes phlogiston is only a sort of chemical
“method”.
The model system “combustion – air”, which played the crucial role in the
formation of new science, has not been chosen consciously by particular scientist.
Rather, it was the result of the particular circumstances in the historical development of scientific research. If this is true, than paradigmatic changes are mere a sort
of self-organization, a crystallization of new knowledges. It is not possible to
manage the development of science!
Phlogiston theory has also an additional disadvantage: it was not applicable for
the combustion of organic compounds, the substances from plant and animal origin.
Was this already the beginning of vitalist thought about the two different chemistries, chemistry of life, and chemistry of inorganic world?
6.1 Conclusions
By analyzing the appearance of the first scientific theory in chemistry, the phlogiston theory, I argue that focusing on the proper model system is crucial for
paradigmatic progress. For instance, for the discovery of quantum theory such
system was the black body radiation. For scientific revolution in chemistry, the
model system was the reaction of combustion.
References
1. Stahl GE (1715, 1740) Opusculum chymico-physico-medicum, Halle et Magdeburgiae
2. Kirwan R (1789) An essay on phlogiston and the constitution of acids, Reprint in 1968, Frank
Cass, London
3. Paušek-Baždar S (1994) Flogistonska teorija u Hrvata. HAZU, Zagreb (In Croatian)
4. Chang H (2010) The hidden history of phlogiston. HYLE 16:47
58
6 Conceptualization of Science and Experimental Model Systems