Evidently, the development of the ways of thinking is closely connected with the
development of the structure of language. The secret alchemical language was a
representation of the alchemical view on the substance. The appearance of new
language is inherent in the scientific revolution. Symbols, substances, and phenomena are in novel paradigm interrelated in a new way.
In summary, the Lavoisier’s step out from the old science comprises the
quantitative experimental approach under the conditions ceteris paribus, the choice
of the appropriate model system, development of new concept of element, and the
associating the linguistic representation with the nature of substance. Experimentations with chemical subjects, and the representative chemical language have
opened the door of the structure of microcosm. The missing step, the formation of
the chemical script, will appear more than the half of century later.
The move from phlogiston to Lavoisier’s theory has also another importance in
the development of epistemology. Although elegantly imagined, the phlogiston
theory has been founded on the introduction of the elusive abstract category, the
phlogiston, which was not isolable or independently investigiable experimentally.
As I have discussed in earlier lectures, the hypotheses, which include such imagined
experimentally not verifiable categories are known as ad hoc theories. All
alchemical thought has its background in ad hoc hypotheses. Let see the books of
Paracelsus! Even more, almost all the physical theories before Copernicus were ad
hoc theories. The new theory of Lavoisier is imagined exclusively as a system that
mutually connects the real observable entities, i.e. the substances that can be studied
in the laboratory. Such paradigmatic change, in which ad hoc hypotheses are not
more in the focus, is in principle the orientation to new scientific epistemology.
However, as I will show in the following lectures, ad hoc hypotheses still play an
important role in science.
8.1 Conclusions
Reexamination of phlogiston theory by Lavoisier is in the base of new paradigm in
chemical science. It is interestingly how the discovery of only one element, oxygen,
has triggered scientific revolution in chemistry by establishing following fundamental concepts of this science: definition of chemical element, chemical classification based on the combinations of elements in the formation of real substances
(chemical compounds), and by designing the rational chemical language, the
chemical nomenclature. Such system of concepts has opened door for the construction of the chemical structural theory in the near future.
70
8 Scientific Revolution in Chemistry
development of the structure of language. The secret alchemical language was a
representation of the alchemical view on the substance. The appearance of new
language is inherent in the scientific revolution. Symbols, substances, and phenomena are in novel paradigm interrelated in a new way.
In summary, the Lavoisier’s step out from the old science comprises the
quantitative experimental approach under the conditions ceteris paribus, the choice
of the appropriate model system, development of new concept of element, and the
associating the linguistic representation with the nature of substance. Experimentations with chemical subjects, and the representative chemical language have
opened the door of the structure of microcosm. The missing step, the formation of
the chemical script, will appear more than the half of century later.
The move from phlogiston to Lavoisier’s theory has also another importance in
the development of epistemology. Although elegantly imagined, the phlogiston
theory has been founded on the introduction of the elusive abstract category, the
phlogiston, which was not isolable or independently investigiable experimentally.
As I have discussed in earlier lectures, the hypotheses, which include such imagined
experimentally not verifiable categories are known as ad hoc theories. All
alchemical thought has its background in ad hoc hypotheses. Let see the books of
Paracelsus! Even more, almost all the physical theories before Copernicus were ad
hoc theories. The new theory of Lavoisier is imagined exclusively as a system that
mutually connects the real observable entities, i.e. the substances that can be studied
in the laboratory. Such paradigmatic change, in which ad hoc hypotheses are not
more in the focus, is in principle the orientation to new scientific epistemology.
However, as I will show in the following lectures, ad hoc hypotheses still play an
important role in science.
8.1 Conclusions
Reexamination of phlogiston theory by Lavoisier is in the base of new paradigm in
chemical science. It is interestingly how the discovery of only one element, oxygen,
has triggered scientific revolution in chemistry by establishing following fundamental concepts of this science: definition of chemical element, chemical classification based on the combinations of elements in the formation of real substances
(chemical compounds), and by designing the rational chemical language, the
chemical nomenclature. Such system of concepts has opened door for the construction of the chemical structural theory in the near future.
70
8 Scientific Revolution in Chemistry