Linking chemistry with physics: arguments and counterarguments

OLIMPIA LOMBARDI

FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMISTRY

SPRINGER

Año: 2014 vol. 16 p. 181 - 192

1386-4238

In his recent book Reducing Chemistry to Physics. Limits, Models, Consequences, Hinne Hettema (2012) addresses the issue of the many-faced relationship between chemistry and physics from a reductive viewpoint. He devotes his work to defend this position on the basis of a ?naturalized? Nagelian concept of reduction, which admits a number of modifications that significantly weaken the original schema. The book is a very fruitful contribution for those interested in understanding the subtleties and complexities underlying the loose and indirect links that interconnect chemistry, quantum chemistry and quantum mechanics. However, there are some considerations that deserve to be made for a balanced assessment of the work. I will critically review three kinds of issues stemming from Hettema?s argumentation: philosophical, scientific and methodological. The aim that underlies the present work is to contribute to the general discussion about the relationships between chemistry and physics, by stressing the many difficulties that must be faced to insist on the reduction of chemistry to physics.