Idealisations to the rescue

Whether scientists describe the world with a mathematical equation, a pictorial representation, or a diagram, one thing is almost always the case: there is some degree of idealisation involved. In recent years, the use of idealisations has drawn the attention of philosophers. In fact, their work has illuminated the fascinating role of idealisations in understanding not only chemical practice and education, but also the chemical world itself.

What are idealisations?

By idealisations, philosophers wish to capture the deliberate act of dismissing, simplifying or disregarding some feature of the phenomenon that scientists aim to describe. Perhaps the most notable example of an idealisation in chemistry is the pictorial representation of atoms and molecules, depicted with static structures and without taking into account the effects of the environment (among other things). Another example is the mathematical description of atoms and molecules as given by solving the Schrödinger equation. This equation describes the properties of an atom or molecule without considering relativistic effects, and by often disregarding some of the interactions of the electrons and nuclei that make it up.

Philosophers have identified different types of idealisations based on their form and function in science.