Article ID: CBB000930626

Fundamental Theories and Their Empirical Patches (2008)

unapi

Berson, Jerome A. (Author)


Foundations of Chemistry
Volume: 10
Pages: 147--156


Publication Date: 2008
Edition Details: Part of a special issue on the intersections of theory and practice in the chemical sciences.
Language: English

Many theories require empirical patches or ad hoc assumptions to work properly in application to chemistry. Some examples include the Bohr quantum theory of atomic spectra, the Pauli exclusion principle, the Marcus theory of the rate-equilibrium correlation, Kekule's hypothesis of bond oscillation in benzene, and the quantum calculation of reaction pathways. Often the proposed refinements do not grow out of the original theory but are devised and added ad hoc. This brings into question the goal of constructing theories derived from first principles and the concept of ranking the merit of theories according to their freedom from empirical contamination. Keywords Merit of theories - Empirical content - Pragmatic imperatives

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Description On application of empirical and ad hoc modifications to chemical theory.


Included in

Article Spector, Tami I. (2008) ISPC 2007 Editorial. Foundations of Chemistry (p. 145). unapi

Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB000930626/

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Authors & Contributors
Llored, Jean-Pierre
Elliott, Steve
Parsons, Keith M.
Wilholt, Torsten
Viola, Enrico
Silvi, Bernard
Concepts
Philosophy of science
Explanation; hypotheses; theories
Chemistry
Empiricism
Pragmatism; instrumentalism
Quantum mechanics
Time Periods
20th century, early
19th century
18th century
20th century, late
20th century
21st century
Places
United States
Germany
Austria
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