Is water H2O? : evidence, pluralism and realism / Hasok Chang.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Chang, Hasok.

Series:

Boston studies in the philosophy of science ; v. 293.

Boston studies in the philosophy of science, 0068-0346 ; v. 293

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Water.

Water--Composition--History.

Water--Composition.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (334 p.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2012.

Place of Publication:

Dordrecht [The Netherlands] : Springer, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book exhibits deep philosophical quandaries and intricacies of the historical development of science lying behind a simple and fundamental item of common sense in modern science, namely the composition of water as H2O. Three main phases of development are critically re-examined, covering the historical period from the 1760s to the 1860s: the Chemical Revolution (through which water first became recognized as a compound, not an element), early electrochemistry (by which water’s compound nature was confirmed), and early atomic chemistry (in which water started out as HO and became H2O). In each case, the author concludes that the empirical evidence available at the time was not decisive in settling the central debates, and therefore the consensus that was reached was unjustified, or at least premature. This leads to a significant re-examination of the realism question in the philosophy of science, and a unique new advocacy for pluralism in science. Each chapter contains three layers, allowing readers to follow various parts of the book at their chosen level of depth and detail. The second major study in "complementary science", this book offers a rare combination of philosophy, history and science in a bid to improve scientific knowledge through history and philosophy of science.

Contents:

Introduction

Water and the Chemical Revolution.- Piles of Confusion: the Mixed Blessing of Electrolysis.- HO or H2O?.-Evidence in Action (or, The Contextuality of Evidence)

Pluralism in Practice.- Realism in a Free Society

Epilogue: Complementary Science Continued.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-280-79890-4

9786613709295

94-007-3932-X

OCLC:

794596340