Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chemical perspective in the study of living beings: a systemic complexity approach

  • Published:
Foundations of Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The concept of living has changed in time along the history of biology and its specificity has been associated or to a particular matter, active such as the chemical one, or was considered as a product of the spatial organization of a passive matter. Today, these two paths can be merged in the chemical perspective that takes account of the general reflections on the complexity and on the systemic, in the “systemic complexity” approach.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Caldin, E.F.: Theories and development of chemistry. Br. J. Philos. Sci. 10, 209–222 (1959)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capra, F.: The Web of Life. Flamingo, London (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  • Capra, F., Luisi, P.L.: The Systems View of Life. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2014)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Christie, N., Christie, J.: “Laws” and “theories” in Chemistry do not obey the rules. In: Bhushan, N., Rosenfeld, S. (eds.) Of Minds and Molecules: New Philosophical Perspectives on Chemistry, pp. 34–50. Oxford University Press, New York (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  • Christie, N., Christie, J.: Chemical laws and theories: a response to Vihalemm. Found. Chem. 5, 165–174 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donnan, F.G.: La science physico-chimique décrit-elle d’une façon adéquate les phénomènes biologique? Scientia 24, 282–288 (1918)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleischer, W.: Zum Verhältnis von Theorie und Praxis in der Chemie, CiS 1, H. 8/9 (1964). In van Brakel and Vermeeren (1981)

  • Gayon, J.: Defining life: synthesis and conclusions. Orig. Life Evol. Biosph. 40, 231–244 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halbwachs, F., Garcia, R.: In: Apostel, L., Cellérier, G. et al. (eds.) L’explication dans les sciences. Flammarion, Paris 1973. Actes du Colloque de l’Académie International de la Philosophie des Sciences avec le concours du Centre International d’Épistémologie Génétique, (Genève 25–29 Sept)

  • Laitko, H., Schmidt, W.: Tendenzen des chemischen elementbegriffs, CiS, 15, H. 7, 292–296 (1968). In Van Brakel and Vermeeren (1981)

  • Morin, E.: Il metodo 1. La natura della natura. Raffaello Cortina, Milano (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pichot, A.: Expliquer la vie. De l’âme à le molécule. Quae, Versailles (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pullman, B.: The Atom in the history of human thought. Oxford University Press, New York (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, N.: Life, reason and history: reading Georges Canguilhem today. Econ Soc 27(2–3), 154–170 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simon, R.: Zu einigen frangen des vernalnisses von empirischem in der chemischen erkenntnis. D. Zeitsch. Phil. 25, 201–211 (1977). In Van Brakel and Vermeeren (1981)

  • van Brakel, J., Vermeeren, H.: On the philosophy of chemistry. Philos. Res. Arch. 7, 1405–1456 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • van Brakel, J.: On the neglect of the philosophy of chemistry. Found. Chem. 1, 111–174 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vihalemm, R.: Are laws of nature and scientific theories peculiar in chemistry? Scrutinizing Mendeleev’s discovery. Found. Chem. 5, 7–22 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villani, G.: Specificità della chimica. In: Mosini, V. (ed.) Philosophers in the Laboratory. Collana di studi 13. Accademia Nazionale di Scienze, Lettere e Arti Modena, MUSIS, Roma, pp. 163–180 (1996)

  • Villani, G.: Una weltanschauung scientifica: la chimica. In: Abrusci, V.M., Cellucci, C., Cordeschi, R., Fano, V. (eds.) Atti del Convegno triennale della SILFS, Prospettive della logica e della filosofia della scienza. ETS, Pisa (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  • Villani, G.: La chiave del mondo. Dalla filosofia alla scienza: l’onnipotenza delle molecole. CUEN, Napoli (2001)

  • Villani, G.: Complessità sistemica. Un’ottica diversa da cui guardare il mondo. Complessità 1–2, 88–100 (2008a)

  • Villani, G.: Complesso e organizzato. Sistemi strutturati in fisica, chimica, biologia ed oltre. FrancoAngeli, Milano (2008b)

  • Villani, G.: La chimica: una scienza della complessità sistemica ante litteram. In: Urbani Ulivi, L. (ed.) Strutture di mondo. Il pensiero sistemico come specchio di una realtà complessa. il Mulino, Bologna (2010)

  • Villani, G.: Structured system in Chemistry. Comparison with mechanics and biology. Found. Chem. 16, 107–123 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vinti, C. (ed.): L’epistemologia francese contemporanea. Città Nuova Editrice, Roma (1977)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Chimica dei Composti OrganoMetallici, ICCOM-CNR (UOS Pisa), Via G. Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    Giovanni Villani

Authors
  1. Giovanni Villani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giovanni Villani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Villani, G. Chemical perspective in the study of living beings: a systemic complexity approach. Found Chem 19, 77–91 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10698-016-9258-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10698-016-9258-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation