在经验定律与形而上学思考之间——道尔顿的物理原子论  

Between Empirical Laws and Metaphysical Thinking:Dalton's Physical Atomism

作　　者：徐雅纯 罗紫薇 XU Yachun;LUO Ziwei(School of Humanities,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China)

机构地区：[1]南京信息工程大学,南京210044 [2]中国科学院大学,北京100049

出　　处：《中国科技史杂志》2024年第2期259-270,共12页The Chinese Journal for the History of Science and Technology

摘　　要：道尔顿原子论包含原子的物理论证和相对原子质量的计算方法,分别被后世化学史家定义为物理原子论与化学原子论。因前者已被现代化学证伪,而后者对当时的化学界和现代化学的贡献令人瞩目,故轻前者、重后者的研究思路盛行。这一思路难以解释道尔顿早年对热学的重视。本文认为道尔顿的理论体系分为原子论、热质理论和亲和力理论三大版块。原子论为热质理论与亲和力理论提供本体论假设;热质理论与亲和力理论为原子论提供经验支持,支撑起原子的本体论论证。综合物理原子论与化学原子论,有助于我们理解道尔顿思想的全貌,重审19世纪原子论发展史的书写。Dalton's atomic theory,which consisted of an ontological proof of the atom and a calculation of its relative atomic mass,was defined by historians of chemistry as physical atomism and chemical atomism respectively.Since the former has been disproved by modern chemistry and the latter has made a notable contribution to the chemistry at that time and now,it is prevailing to ignore the former and focus on the latter in Dalton's researches.However,it is difficult to understand Dalton's emphasis on thermodynamics in his early years in this research style.This paper argues that Dalton's theoretical system could be divided into three sections:the atomism,the caloric theory and the affinity theory.Atomism is the ontological assumption for the caloric theory and the affinity theory;his caloric theory and affinity theory provide empirical support for atomism.The synthesis of physical and chemical atomic theory helps us to understand Dalton's thought and to revisit the history of atomic theory in the 19th century.

关 键 词：道尔顿 原子论 物理原子论 热质理论 

分 类 号：N09[自然科学总论—科学技术哲学] O609[理学—化学]