Style of reasoning and technical-cultural capillary action in the Chemistry of 18th century

Scientiae Studia 13 (4):759-780 (2015)
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Abstract

RESUMO Neste artigo pretendo identificar um "estilo de raciocínio" próprio à química e apontar a disseminação de seus produtos e conceitos. O objetivo é o de explicitar alguns elementos que caracterizam o estilo de pensar e de fazer da química na segunda metade do século XVIII, sua capilarização técnico-cultural. O delineamento de um estilo químico de raciocinar origina-se da constância dos espaços técnico-epistêmicos em que o saber químico é construído. A química é uma ciência de laboratório, eminentemente técnica e operatória, quer dizer, trata-se de um conhecimento técnico-científico stricto sensu. Produtora de artefatos, a ciência química é inseparável da técnica, da tecnologia e da indústria, de maneira que sua identidade epistêmica é indissociável de sua história. Seu estilo caracteriza um valor profundo na cultura técnica do homo faber, do poder de agir sobre a natureza e de transformá-la através de manipulações e de rearranjos. ABSTRACT In this paper I will identify a "style of reasoning" that is proper to to Chemistry and to point to the dissemination of its products and concepts. My aim is to explain some elements that characterize the style of thinking and engaging in Chemistry in the second half of the 18th century, its techno-cultural capillary action. The shaping of a chemical style of reasoning originated from the constancy of the techno-epistemic sites in which chemical knowledge is formed. Chemistry is a laboratory science, eminently technical and operative, i.e., it deals with a techno-scientific knowledge stricto sensu. A producer of artifacts, chemical science is inseparable from technique, technology and industry, in such a way that its epistemic identity is inseparable from its history. Its style marks a profound value in the technical culture of the homo faber, the power of acting upon nature and transforming it through manipulations and rearrangements.

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Ronei Clecio Mocellin
Federal University of Paraná

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‘Language, Truth and Reason’ 30years later.Ian Hacking - 2012 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 43 (4):599-609.
The Chemists' Style of Thinking.Bernadette Bensaude-Vincent - 2009 - Berichte Zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte 32 (4):365-378.
The notion of nature in chemistry.Joachim Schummer - 2003 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 34 (4):705-736.
Science as Labor.Wolfgang Lefèvre - 2005 - Perspectives on Science 13 (2):194-225.

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