Review of Química general. Una aproximación histórico-filosófica

Abstract

This text reviews the book Química general. Una aproximación histórico-filosófica by José Antonio Chamizo, a work that proposes a historical and philosophical approach to chemistry with a strong heuristic character. The review examines three central axes: the conceptualization of technoscience and technochemistry, the author’s historiographical and philosophical proposal and the incorporation of women into the history of chemistry. Chamizo argues that chemistry has been a technoscience since the late eighteenth century, which makes it possible to rethink its historical development in terms of transformation rather than rupture, in dialogue with contemporary philosophical perspectives. The book also integrates theory, practice, instruments and experimentation as constitutive elements of chemical knowledge. Finally, it highlights the visibility of women’s contributions to chemistry from alchemy to the twentieth century, thereby broadening the epistemic and pedagogical references of the discipline. The work is presented as an original contribution to the teaching and understanding of chemistry.
This book has a precedent (General Chemistry. A Historical Approach, 2018) by Dr. Chamizo. It is very enriching to make a comparison that locates some of the various heuristic aspects of the works. In this regard, we will focus on three aspects: 1) The concepts: technoscience and technochemistry; 2) The historical and philosophical proposal of the book; and 3) The incorporation of women in chemistry.