Abstract

Harold Kincaid in Individualism and the Unity of Science postulates a model of unity-without-reduction in order to accurately describe the relation between individualism and macroeconomics. I present this model and apply it to the description of the relation between chemistry and quantum mechanics. I argue that, when it comes to the description of molecular structure, chemistry and quantum mechanics are unified in Kincaid’s sense. Specifically, the two disciplines contribute to the formation of a unified body of knowledge with respect to molecular structure.

Highlights

  • The relation between chemistry and quantum mechanics is extensively debated1 in the philosophy of chemistry

  • Chemistry is taken to be reduced to quantum mechanics so much so that, at least in principle, quantum mechanics could substitute chemistry in the description, 1 For example Gavroglu and Simoes (2012), Hendry (2004, 2006b, 2010), Hendry et al (2012), Hettema (2014), Lombardi and Labarca (2005), Lombardi (2014), Needham (2010), Scerri (2012), Scerri and Fisher (2016), Schummer (2014), Le Poidevin (2005), Ramsey (1997)

  • ‘Body of knowledge’ refers to the theoretical postulations and conceptions developed for the prediction and explanation of a specific phenomenon

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Summary

Introduction

The relation between chemistry and quantum mechanics is extensively debated1 in the philosophy of chemistry. The paper argues that if chemistry’s and quantum mechanics’ relation complies to Kincaid’s model, their respective descriptions of molecular structure can be understood as forming a unified ‘body of knowledge’.4 ‘Body of knowledge’ refers to the theoretical postulations and conceptions developed for the prediction and explanation of a specific phenomenon.

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