A cultural operation by Italian chemists
The ‘Epistemology and History of Chemistry Group’ has a dual purpose: an “internal question” to the scientific field and an “external question”. Regarding the internal issue, it is often believed that epistemological and historical domains are not useful to researchers. They could be “useful” in science education if the “many disciplinary concepts to be taught” could allow some “time slots” for these considerations. This general position is the cultural heritage of the philosophical vision of science called “naively realistic.” It is based on the idea that the scientist is not, and should not be, “creative”, but should only find and report objective “facts”, and experimental truths. On the other hand, this philosophical position is already implicit in the term “scientific discovery.” Scientific truths are not an invention (those are left to technology in this field), but an “exposition”, a “revelation” of an objective reality.
The naively realistic position is widely held in society and it is the product of a factual educational approach to science teaching. Unfortunately, also many scientists adhere to the naively objectivist position of scientific truth, thus diminishing the value of their work, making it exclusively “technical” and devoid of cultural value.
This brings us to the second question, the external one: the aim of this group is enhancing the general and cultural aspects of scientific research in society and presenting it in a correct light. It is an indisputable fact that modern society is permeated with scientific questions arising from technological applications. The specific terms of these problems are, of course, beyond the reach of the public. Being able to fill these problems with general concepts and accurate images, being able to follow the reasoning of “experts” and being able to express a critical/informed opinion on these issues that also shape our lives should be a general competence of citizens. This goal can be achieved with a twofold effort: that of citizens, of course, in informing themselves and recognizing reliable sources of information, and that of “technicians” rediscovering and enhancing the cultural substrate that guides and directs their specific scientific research.
In conclusion, I want to emphasize that the establishment of the Interdivisional Group of Epistemology and History of Chemistry is, of course, a practical operation, but it is also a cultural operation for chemistry and science in general.
The author of this article is the elected coordinator of the Interdivisional Group of Epistemology and History of Chemistry for the next three years.
