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69The recently claimed observation of atomic orbitals and some related philosophical issuesProceedings of the Philosophy of Science Association 2001 (3). 2001.The main thrust of the paper involves a theoretical and philosophical analysis of the claim made in September 1999 that atomic orbitals have been directly imaged for the first time. After a brief account of the recent claims the paper reviews the development of the orbit and later orbital concepts and analyzes the theoretical status of atomic orbitals. The conclusion is that contrary to these claims, atomic orbitals have not in fact been observed. The non-referring nature of modern atomic orbita…Read more
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9Second response to Paul NeedhamInternational Studies in the Philosophy of Science 14 (3). 2000.This Article does not have an abstract
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81Bibilography of secondary sources on the periodic system of the chemical elementsFoundations of Chemistry 3 (2): 183-195. 2001.One of the consequences of the renewed interest in philosophical aspects of chemistry has been the corresponding renewed interest in the periodic system of the elements which embodies so much chemical knowledge in an implicit form.We have therefore decided to further promote scholarship on the periodic system by compiling a bibliography of previously published material. As the title of this article implies, we restrict ourselves to secondary sources. Readers interested in primary material…Read more
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Introduction: The invisibility of chemistryBoston Studies in the Philosophy of Science 242 3-18. 2005.
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121Principles and parameters in physics and chemistryPhilosophy of Science 71 (5): 1082-1094. 2004.The paper examines critically some recently published views by Ramsey on the contrast between ab initio and parametrized theories. I argue that, all things being equal, ab initio calculations are indeed regarded more highly in the physics and chemistry communities. A case study on density functional approaches in theoretical chemistry is presented in order to re‐examine the question of ab initio and parametrized approaches in a contemporary context.
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48Editorial 8 – special issue on the periodic system of the elementsFoundations of Chemistry 3 (2): 97-104. 2001.
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51Has Chemistry Been at Least Approximately Reduced to Quantum Mechanics?PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association 1994. 1994.Differing views on reduction are briefly reviewed and a suggestion is made for a working definition of 'approximate reduction'. Ab initio studies in quantum chemistry are then considered, including the issues of convergence and error bounds. This includes an examination of the classic studies on CH2 and the recent work on the Si2C molecule. I conclude that chemistry has not even been approximately reduced
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164The exclusion principle, chemistry and hidden variablesSynthese 102 (1). 1995.The Pauli Exclusion Principle and the reduction of chemistry have been the subject of considerable philosophical debate, The present article considers the view that the lack of derivability of the Exclusion Principle represents a problem for physics and denies the reduction of chemistry to quantum mechanics. The possible connections between the Exclusion Principle and the hidden variable debate are also briefly criticised.
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24Philosophy of chemistry—a new interdisciplinary field?Journal of Chemical Education 77 522-526. 2000.Philosophy of Chemistry—A New Interdisciplinary Field? What could possibly be the connection between chemistry and philosophy, apart from the obvious superficial one of their both representing quests for knowledge? How do contemporary chemists and philosophers generally view one another? These are some of the questions I will try to put before going on to describe the connections that have recently been forged between these two seemingly very diverse fields of academic study.
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50A critique of Atkins' periodic kindom and some writings on electronic structureFoundations of Chemistry 1 (3): 295-303. 1999.This article consists of a critique of the writings of Peter Atkins. The topics discussed include the quantum mechanical explanation of the periodic system, the aufbau principle and the order of occupation of orbitals by electrons. It is also argued that Atkins fails to appreciate the philosophical significance of the more general version of the Pauli Exclusion Principle and that this omission has ramifications in the popular presentation of chemistry as well as chemical education and philosophy…Read more
Eric Scerri
UCLA
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UCLADepartment of Chemistry and BiochemistryLecturer