Huggett, Nick and Ladyman, James and Thebault, Karim P Y (2024) On the Quantum Theory of Molecules: Rigour, Idealization, and Uncertainty. [Preprint]
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Abstract
Philosophers have claimed that: (a) the Born-Oppenheimer approximation methods for solving molecular Schrödinger equations violate the Heisenberg uncertainty relations; therefore (b) so-called `quantum chemistry' is not fully quantum; and so (c) chemistry does not reduce to physics. This paper analyses the reasoning behind Born-Oppenheimer methods and shows that they are internally consistent and fully quantum mechanical, contrary to (a)-(c). Our analysis addresses important issues of mathematical rigour, physical idealisation, reduction, and classicality in the quantum theory of molecules, and we propose an agenda for the philosophy of quantum chemistry more solidly grounded in scientific practice.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | ||||||||||||
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| Keywords: | quantum chemistry; idealization; reduction; rigour | ||||||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Chemistry General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics General Issues > Reductionism/Holism |
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| Depositing User: | Dr Karim Thebault | ||||||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 04 Nov 2024 13:00 | ||||||||||||
| Last Modified: | 04 Nov 2024 13:00 | ||||||||||||
| Item ID: | 24161 | ||||||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Chemistry General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics General Issues > Reductionism/Holism |
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| Date: | 4 November 2024 | ||||||||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24161 |
Available Versions of this Item
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On the Quantum Theory of Molecules: Rigour, Idealization, and Uncertainty. (deposited 10 Oct 2024 11:49)
- On the Quantum Theory of Molecules: Rigour, Idealization, and Uncertainty. (deposited 04 Nov 2024 13:00) [Currently Displayed]
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