Control and Quantification in Modern Chemistry

现代化学中的控制和定量

• 批准号: 9510135
• 负责人: Lawrence Principe
• 金额: $ 7.1万
• 依托单位: Johns Hopkins University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Fixed Amount Award
• 财政年份: 1995
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1995-11-01 至 1998-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9510135&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Control; Quantification; Modern; Chemistry

An amazing proportion of Americans from all walks of life believe in what scientists call "pseudo-science." Very few newspapers, for example, do not carry an astrology column. Timing of significant events in certain Asian countries are determined by astrologers. Even a recent first lady consulted an astrologer in order to find the most propitious timing for state events. While scorned by many scientists, there is a long tradition of interaction among the "pseudo-sciences" and the "real" sciences. Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe both practiced astrology. Robert Boyle and Isaac Newton both practiced alchemy. The research that Drs. Principe and Newman are undertaking examines the relationship between what we now call pseudo-science and the development of "true" science during the scientific revolution. In particular, they are examining the influence of alchemical traditions as practiced in America on the rise of modern chemistry. They are examining the laboratory notebooks of George Starkey, a graduate of Harvard, who undertook experimental testing of alchemical theories. His emphasis on control and quantification became a hallmark of modern chemistry. This research is not aimed to undermine the standards of contemporary science. Rather, its aim is to show how scientific method growing out of pseudosciences can lead to legitimate scientific results if properly pursued. One might wish that current practitioners of astrology would apply the same methods of control and quantification pursued by Starkey and his colleagues. In the long run, the true efficacy of such belief in extra-terrestrial influences on human lives could then be discerned.

各行各业的美国人中，相信科学家所说的“伪科学”的人比例惊人。“例如，很少有报纸不刊登占星专栏。 在某些亚洲国家，重大事件的时间是由占星家决定的。 就连最近的一位第一夫人也咨询了占星家，以便为国家大事找到最有利的时机。 “伪科学”与“真实的”科学相互作用的传统由来已久，但却为许多科学家所不齿。 约翰内斯·开普勒和第谷·布拉赫都从事占星术。 罗伯特·波义耳和艾萨克·牛顿都是炼金术士。 普林西比博士和纽曼博士正在进行的研究考察了我们现在所说的伪科学与科学革命期间“真”科学发展之间的关系。 特别是，他们正在研究在美国实行的炼金术传统对现代化学兴起的影响。 他们正在检查乔治斯塔基的实验室笔记本，他是哈佛的毕业生，负责炼金术理论的实验测试。 他对控制和量化的强调成为现代化学的标志。 这项研究的目的不是要破坏当代科学的标准。 相反，它的目的是表明，如果正确地追求，从伪科学中产生的科学方法如何能够导致合法的科学结果。 人们可能希望现在的占星术从业者能应用斯塔基和他的同事们所追求的同样的控制和量化方法。 从长远来看，这种相信外星人对人类生活的影响的真正效力才能被辨别出来。