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The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science Advance Access originally published online on April 30, 2007
The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 2007 58(2):339-353; doi:10.1093/bjps/axm008
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Copyright © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Society for the Philosophy of Science.

Le Poidevin on the Reduction of Chemistry

Robin Findlay Hendry and Paul Needham

Department of Philosophy, Durham University, 50 Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HN UK
Department of Philosophy, University of Stockholm, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden

r.f.hendry{at}durham.ac.uk

paul.needham{at}philosophy.su.se


  Abstract

In this article we critically evaluate Robin Le Poidevin's recent attempt to set out an argument for the ontological reduction of chemistry independently of intertheoretic reduction. We argue, firstly, that the argument he envisages applies only to a small part of chemistry, and that there is no obvious way to extend it. We argue, secondly, that the argument cannot establish the reduction of chemistry, properly so called.

1 Introduction
2 The scope of the reductionist claim
3 The combinatorial argument
4 The strength of the ‘reduction’
5 Concluding remarks


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