论美国化学的苏格兰传统

ON THE SCOTTISH TRADITION IN AMERICAN CHEMISTRY

将美国化学的发展做为一个整体,置于思想,社会和实践活动的综合背景下进行的系统研究,目前在国内外科学史界不算太多.本文依据翔实的化学史料,对美国化学发展的初期归纳抽取出了一种类似思想内核的美国化学发展模式—苏格兰传统.主要通过分析苏格兰化学的地位及其在美国的传播过程,和苏格兰传统的形成,文章认为,苏格兰传统体现着美国化学发展初期富有表现力的实用性思想.可看做为美国化学启蒙的标志.

It is well-known in the academic circle of the history of science,both of the West and of our country,that not so much investigations are systematically studied on the history of American chemistry including the history of its thought,in the con- text of social and practical activities as well as intellectual ones.This paper puts forwad a mode of American chemistuy mamed as Scottish tradition for its early developments.The tradition,for whose influences American chemistry moved into its special enlightenment period,is chiefly extracted from the more detailed sources of the history of American chemistry,and is present- ed throuugh combinations of the statue of Scottish chemistry in Europe,its transmissions and its interactions as formation be- tween the typical early American chemists'careers and the consequences of transmissions in that country.One of the most im- portmant results obtained from the study,the author observes,is involved farther and more completely researches on different aspects of American chemistry.