The role of idealisations in describing an isolated molecule

Vanessa A Seifert

doi:10.1007/s10698-019-09342-7

The role of idealisations in describing an isolated molecule

Vanessa A Seifert

Department of Philosophy

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Abstract

The investigation of the relation between chemistry and quantum mechanics includes examining how the two theories each describe an isolated molecule. This paper focuses on one particular characteristic of chemistry’s and quantum mechanics’ descriptions of an isolated molecule; namely on the assumptions made by each description that an isolated molecule is stable and has structure. The paper argues that these assumptions are an idealisation. First, this is because stability and structure are partially determined by factors that concern the context in which a molecule is considered (i.e. thermodynamic conditions, time-range of experiment, environment, etc.). Secondly, the stability and structure of a molecule can only be empirically identified with reference to those factors. This paper examines these assumptions in the context of the philosophical literature on idealisations. This examination is a novel contribution that raises interesting questions about the relation between the two theories, the nature of stability and structure, and the function of these assumptions in the two theories.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	15-29
Number of pages	15
Journal	Foundations of Chemistry
Volume	22
Early online date	24 Sep 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10698-019-09342-7
Publication status	Published - 24 Sep 2019

Bibliographical note

Provisional acceptance date added, based on publication date. The research for this paper has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's (EU) Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, grant agreement No 771509.

Keywords

idealisations
relation between chemistry and quantum mechanics
stability
molecular structure

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10.1007/s10698-019-09342-7

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MetaScience: The Metaphysical Unity of Science
Tahko, T., Seifert, V. A., Friend, T. T., Kimpton-Nye, S., Bellazzi, F. & Franklin, A.
1/09/18 → 31/08/23
Project: Research

Cite this

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The role of idealisations in describing an isolated molecule

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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MetaScience: The Metaphysical Unity of Science

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