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.

来自各行各业的美国人中有惊人比例相信科学家所说的“伪科学”。 例如，很少有报纸没有占星专栏。 某些亚洲国家重大事件的时间由占星师确定。 甚至最近的一位第一夫人也咨询了占星家，以找到国家活动的最有利时机。 虽然受到许多科学家的蔑视，但“伪科学”和“真正的”科学之间的相互作用有着悠久的传统。 约翰内斯·开普勒和第谷·布拉赫都从事占星学研究。 罗伯特·博伊尔和艾萨克·牛顿都练习炼金术。 博士的研究。普林西比和纽曼正在研究科学革命期间我们现在所说的伪科学与“真正”科学的发展之间的关系。 特别是，他们正在研究美国炼金术传统对现代化学兴起的影响。 他们正在检查哈佛大学毕业生乔治·斯塔基的实验室笔记本，他对炼金术理论进行了实验测试。 他对控制和定量的强调成为现代化学的标志。 这项研究并不是为了破坏当代科学的标准。 相反，它的目的是展示从伪科学中发展出来的科学方法，如果采取得当，如何能够产生合法的科学结果。 人们可能希望当前的占星学实践者能够应用斯塔基和他的同事所追求的相同的控制和量化方法。 从长远来看，这种相信外星人对人类生活有影响的信念的真正功效就会被认识到。