Reductionism and extensiveness in Chemistry

Abstract

Unlike Physics or Biology, a philosophical approach to the most fundamental aspects of Chemistry is practically absent from the debate in the community, except in the small circle of specialists in the philosophy of Chemistry. However, as I argue in this short paper, debates such as the connection between reductionism and extensivity of a discipline and its scientific relevance, or the relationship of dependency and subsidiarity of Chemistry with Physics and Biology, deserve greater attention from our community and should be introduced to students of Chemistry.