Article ID: CBB000930619

Why Take Chemistry Stoically? The Case of Posidonius (2008)

unapi

This paper analyzes views of the Stoic philosopher Posidonius (1st century BC) in the light of modern Chemistry. I propose that Posidonius' account on generation and destruction bears noteworthy similarities to the scientific notions of chemical elements, chemical species, nuclear reactions, and the law of conservation of mass. I find that his views compare favorably also with our understanding of chemical change at solid surfaces. Provided his thought is correctly placed in the cultural context of his day, I argue that Posidonius deserves a previously un-acknowledged consideration in the historical background of modern Chemistry. Keywords Posidonius - Stoic philosophy - Chemical element - Chemical species - Chemical change

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Description A comparison of the 1st century, B.C., Stoic philosopher with modern chemical notions.


Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB000930619/

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Authors & Contributors
Gaca, Kathy L.
Hensley, Ian
Vanessa de Harven
Xenophontos, Sophia
Zupko, Jack
Wynne, J. P. F.
Concepts
Stoicism
Philosophy
Cosmology
Physics
Astronomy
Science and culture
Time Periods
Ancient
Places
Greece
Rome (Italy)
Hellenistic world
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