Abstract

Chemistry is at the crossroads of many issues in philosophy of science. It entertains intimate relations with both physics and biology; it incorporates strong theoretical elements mixed with sophisticated experimental practices; it is linked with industry, medicine and agriculture, which makes the discipline central for many societal issues. Yet surprisingly, despite a recent resurgence of interest, the field has not received as much attention from philosophers as other disciplines such as physics and biology. Philosophie de la chimie purports to fill this gap by presenting the French-speaking audience with a collection of historical and contemporary texts from historians, chemists and philosophers examining the nature of chemistry and its specificities and highlighting its original philosophical importance.