Preparing the ground for quantum chemistry in Great Britain: the work of the physicist R. H. Fowler and the chemist N. V. Sidgwick [Book Review]

British Journal for the History of Science 35 (2):187-212 (2002)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

In this paper we will discuss some of the issues related to the attempts of Ralph Howard Fowler and Nevil Vincent Sidgwick to create a legitimizing space for quantum and theoretical chemistry in Britain. Although neither Fowler nor Sidgwick made original contributions to quantum chemistry, they followed closely the developments in the discipline, participated in meetings and discussions and delivered lectures, talks and addresses, where methodological topics, ontological questions and implicitly the problem of autonomy of the new discipline vis-à-vis both physics and chemistry were taken to be pressing issues. In particular, they encouraged young people to work within the nascent discipline. Viewing quantum chemistry as a branch of applied mathematics became an emblematic characteristic of the practice of the new discipline in Great Britain

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,221

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Quantum Chemistry in Great Britain: Developing a Mathematical Framework for Quantum Chemistry.Ana Simões & Kostas Gavroglu - 2000 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 31 (4):511-548.
Quantum chemistry in great Britain: Developing a mathematical framework for quantum chemistry.A. Simoes, Gavroglu &Unknown & K. - 2000 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 31 (4):511-548.
The Ambiguity of Reduction.Eric R. Scerri - 2007 - Hyle 13 (2):67 - 81.
Is quantum chemistry a degenerating research programme?Hinne Hettema - 2007 - Logic and Philosophy of Science 6 (1):3-23.
Quantum Chemistry and Organic Theory.William Goodwin - 2013 - Philosophy of Science 80 (5):1159-1169.
Explanation and theory formation in quantum chemistry.Hinne Hettema - 2009 - Foundations of Chemistry 11 (3):145-174.
Matters are not so clear on the physical side.Mario Castagnino - 2010 - Foundations of Chemistry 12 (2):159-166.
Patching physics and chemistry together.Robert C. Bishop - 2005 - Philosophy of Science 72 (5):710-722.

Analytics

Added to PP
2015-01-22

Downloads
39 (#354,874)

6 months
5 (#244,107)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Citations of this work

Complex Systems, Modelling and Simulation.Sam Schweber & Matthias Wächter - 2000 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 31 (4):583-609.
Quantum Chemistry in Great Britain: Developing a Mathematical Framework for Quantum Chemistry.Ana Simões & Kostas Gavroglu - 2000 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 31 (4):511-548.
Quantum Chemistry in Great Britain: Developing a Mathematical Framework for Quantum Chemistry.Ana Simões & Kostas Gavroglu - 2000 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 31 (4):511-548.

View all 6 citations / Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references