editorially /peaking
On the Importance of History The observation that chemistrv is a product of the human intellect has been made on these pages on several occasions. We return to this same theme to form the basis for supporting the establishment of a History of Chemistry Center. The dynamic character of modern chemistry-another familiar theme-makes it important to understand why we know somethina rather than that we know it. The purview of modand reinterpreted. Common terms used by chemists-bonds, molecules, electrons, polymers, etc.-are the products of many people's life work. It may be expedient, and indeed even essential, that young students he taught in a dogmatic fashion, but there is little question that the serious student of chemistry needs to be emancipated from the recital of factual information in elementarv textbooks. To understand how we know something requires an apnreciation of two factors: the loeic involved in the chain of events t h a t l e d to articulation of that knowledge and the context in which these events occurred. A. N. Whitehead emphasized the two-fold nature of historical fact, namely that everv standpoint is what it is bv virtue of its origin from the pastand itskrge to the future. Thus, in whitehead's view, no chemical conceot-atom; excited state, periodic relationship-stands alone hut rather it is constantly evolving in the context of associated ideas. A knowledge of history is necessary not to liberalize science but to understand it! Numerous writers have commented on the value of considering the historical perspective in teaching chemistry or applying chemical concepts. I t can encourage development in creative thinking for it illustrates how creative individuals have worked within the actual disorder of experience; indeed,
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the student gains an appreciation of the psychology involved in orincinles which are often transeressed in the ~-~nuestionine u. evolution of important advances in chemistry. This observation together with the recognition that even respected leaders of chemistry make mistakes illustrates the exquisite loneliness of the creative process. ex.. Ostwald did not believe in atoms well into the iwentiet'h c%tury. History reminds us of the potential importance of small seemingly unimportant things; the need to understand what a fact is; the relationship of chemistry to the other sciences; the constructive necessity of controversy; the need for commitment; the effects of failure. In other words, historv tells us of how the human condition and intellect pioduce our science, and since humans are intimatelv involved.. the urocess is naturally interesting to other . humans. Those who would use history to help their students learn chemistry and/or advance the frontiers of chemistry should have ready access to asource of such material. Although there are nume;ous excellent sources for material on chemical history through the 19th century, it is a curious fact that there is no provision within the structure of the American Chemical Society for the systematic acquisition of materials covering a period in history strongly influenced by the successes of American chemists. The current attempt to establish a Historv of Chemistrv Center described on oaee 415 of this issue is oily the latest a series of attempts wh&h began when the American Chemical Societv was founded in 1876. Perhaus the earlier reluctance to establish a center for the history of chemistry by a fledgling organization in a country that had relatively little chemical history is understandable. Today's reluctance is difficult to understand or to defend. JJL
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Volume 58
Number 5 May 1981
369
