The Metaphysics of Chemistry

We are pleased to announce the first international workshop on the Metaphysics of Chemistry, which is scheduled to take place from 21-22 July 2024 at the Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium).

Although metaphysics of science has enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in recent years, the metaphysics of chemistry remains largely uncharted and has not received the attention it deserves. This workshop seeks to remedy this situation.

The aim of the workshop is threefold: (1) to reinforce and create new collaborations between scholars in metaphysics of science and philosophy of chemistry, (2) to provide a forum for the exploration of chemistry’s metaphysics by focusing on the nature of chemical kinds, chemical laws, chemical causation, chemical realism, and the relation of chemistry to physics and biology, and (3) to produce the first edited volume, devoted specifically to the metaphysics of chemistry.

We welcome submissions on any topic in the metaphysics of chemistry. But note that the workshop will be organised around the following five themes: (1) chemical kinds, (2) chemical laws, (3) chemical causation, (4) chemical reduction, and (5) chemical realism.