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“… to make Chemistry more Applicable and Generally Beneficial”—The Transition in Scientific Perspective in Eighteenth Century Chemistry
Author(s) -
Meinel Christoph
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition in english
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 0570-0833
DOI - 10.1002/anie.198403391
Subject(s) - chemist , perspective (graphical) , hierarchy , chemistry , field (mathematics) , function (biology) , history of chemistry , epistemology , sociology , political science , computer science , history of science , philosophy , mathematics , organic chemistry , law , artificial intelligence , evolutionary biology , pure mathematics , biology
In 1751, the Swedish chemist Johan Gottschalk Wallerius first differentiated between “pure” and “applied” chemistry, a distinction which was quickly adopted by the other branches of science. Behind this was a new scientific concept of chemistry which emphasized the importance of applying chemistry's accumulated knowledge and its capabilities of providing for the general economic benefit. It also provided chemistry with a new position within the hierarchy of the sciences as well as with a new function in society. The reasons behind and causes of the change in scientific perspective associated with this concept point to the social and institutional conditions under which this field has developed into an independent academic discipline.