Conclusion

Although each of the issues discussed above branches out into various specific issues, there are two running threads throughout this essay, which are radical change and dealing with real-world complexity.

The two running threads, presented in this chapter for introductory reasons, might give a too homogeneous impression of current philosophy of chemistry, though. Indeed the field is extremely rich in topics that cover all branches of philosophy, including epistemology, methodology, meta­physics, ontology, ethics, aesthetics, and semiotics. Moreover, there are many important philosophical studies that analyze specific chemical concepts and issues in their particular historical and cultural contexts. From that diversity one might conclude that philosophy of chemistry hardly exists yet as a clearly defined and homogenous field, because it lacks paradigmatic issues and a focused methodology and borrows instead as much from philosophy as from history of science and science studies.

It is certainly true that much of current philosophy of chemistry is still in a process of defining itself anew and that the contemporary Zeitgeist is not without impact on that process. However, there are other, perhaps more important, reasons for the diversity. Remember that chemistry follows methodological pluralism rather than universalism, which produces a kind of patchwork knowledge diversified by relevance aspects. Because most of today's philosophers of chemistry have a background, if not a former career, in chemistry, it is likely that their philosophical work is influenced by the epistemological style of chemistry, which deeply distrusts the big pictures and simplifications of universalism. If chemistry also in this way inspires philosophy, the better for philosophy.