Para além das fronteiras da química: relações entre filosofia, psicologia e ensino de química

The concepts of molecule and of molecular structure are so central to understand chemical phenomena that seems to be no doubt about the uniqueness of its meanings. Nevertheless, the idea that the world exhibits a multiform structure and that to different spheres of the world correspond different ways of knowing (Berger & Luckmann, 1967) has received support from different areas of scientific inquiry. Bachelard (1940, 1982) showed that a single philosophical doctrine is not enough to describe all the different ways of thinking when we try to explain a single concept. Wooley's question about the possibility of deducing the concept of molecular structure from quantum theory (Wooley, 1978) strengthened the feasibility of thinking the concept of molecule as a profile that encompasses different meanings. Moreover, research on students' learning of scientific concepts have brought to light that students use several ideas to explain scientific and everyday phenomena which are different from those learned in formal schooling. These ideas are not extinguished or replaced by scientific concepts, despite the efforts to do so in science classes. The common sense and scientific ways of understanding and talking about reality seems to be complementary in the same sense of the Bohr's complementarity (Halliday & Martin, 1993). So, we have to include in our profile of the concept of molecule not only scientific but also common sense zones. Drawing from Bachelard's notion of epistemological profile, from the history of science and from the research on children's ideas in science, we have developed the idea of a conceptual profile and used it to analyse basic scientific concepts, such as the concepts of matter and physical states of matter (Mortimer, 1995) and to investigate new ways to teach them. In the present paper, we will discuss the zones that might constitute a conceptual profile of molecule. The need of complementary views to account for the molecular structure in different contexts bring important issues for understanding and teaching chemistry, which will be discussed further in the article.

Els inicis de la filologia catalana moderna: estudi biogrà fic d'Antoni de Bastero i Lledó, canonge de Girona (1675-1737)

Treball resultat d’un seguit de recerques paral·leles a l’estudi de l’obra filològica d’Antoni de Bastero, considerat avui el més important filòleg del segle XVIII, precursor dels estudis literaris i lingüístics moderns al nostre país

La Companyia de Jesús a les Històries d’Espanya Moderna

L’objectiu d’aquest estat de la qüestió és analitzar com s’ha estudiat historiogràficament la Companyia de Jesús a l’Espanya dels segles XVI, XVII i XVIII, des de la seva fundació fins la seva expulsió dels territoris de la Monarquia Hispànica. Es farà a partir principalment dels manuals i històries de Espanya, ampliant la informació amb algunes de les principals obres de referència d’Història de l’Església. A partir de la bibliografia es veu com l’objecte d’estudi aquí contemplat s’estudia des de diversos àmbits –social, ideològic, cultural, polític, econòmic–. Per aquest motiu, l’estudi es centrarà primerament en els primers inicis de la Societat de Jesús, així com en la figura del seu fundador, Ignasi de Loiola. En segon lloc, tractarà l’estreta relació dels jesuïtes amb la Reforma catòlica i la Contrareforma, així com la seva forma d’interpretar la fe i els conflictes que provocaren amb altres ordres. En tercer lloc, estudiarà l’educació jesuítica, les seves característiques, la seva finalitat i la qüestió de l’especialització en les elits. En últim lloc, es preocuparà per les relacions entre la Companyia de Jesús i la monarquia, destacant el paper dels confessors reials, el motí d’Esquilache i la seva expulsió.

Os produtos naturais e a química medicinal moderna

Natural products have been utilized by humans since ancient times and the relief and cure of their diseases was the first purpose for using natural products in medicine. The history of the oriental and occidental civilizations is very rich in examples of the utilization of natural products in medicine and health care. Chinese traditional medicine is one of the most important examples of how natural products can be efficient in the treatment of diseases, and it points to the importance of scientific research on natural products, concerning the discovery of new active chemical entities. The complexity, chemical diversity and biological properties of natural products always fascinated people, and during the last 200 years, this led to the discovery of important new drugs. In the last 30 years, the development of new bioassay techniques, biotechnology methods, bio-guided phytochemical studies, automated high throughput screening and high performance analytical methods, have introduced new concepts and possibilities of rational drug design and drug discovery. In this context, natural products have played an important and decisive role in the development of modern medicinal chemistry.

Biologia química: uma estratégia moderna para a pesquisa em produtos naturais

This paper presents an overview of the Natural Products Research in Brazil in the last five years (2002-2006), and also discusses how some relevant aspects of the Chemical Biology area could create new research opportunities and challenges for the natural product chemists. In addition, some aspects of the scientific policies and their impact on current projects are discussed.

Química Medicinal Moderna: desafios e contribuição brasileira

The main aspects of the modern Medicinal Chemistry, among the classic and industrial paradigms, used in the drug discovery process will be treated. The contribution of the Brazilian science in the knowledge generation in Medicinal Chemistry will be demonstrated, with base in searches accomplished in the portal Web of Science® 7.10 and in the directory of groups of research of CNPq.

Química e filosofia: rumo a uma frutífera colaboração

This review seeks to present a brief history of the philosophy of chemistry and the major issues discussed in the framework of this emerging discipline of philosophy of science, such as the question of physicalist reductionism and physical and chemical causality. In this vein, it also addresses the current debate over relevant issues of chemical world such as atomic orbitals, molecular structure, chemical bonding, models and explanations, as well as the foundations of the periodic table. Finally, the importance of the link between the philosophy of chemistry and chemistry education is analyzed, especially in relation to teacher training.

Doute methodique et morale cartesienne

O artigo examina o estatuto da moral ao longo da obra de Descartes, da «moral por provisão» do Discurso à «moral como sabedoria» da carta-prefácio à edição francesa dos Princípios. A constituição da metafísica neste ínterim, com a separação entre a verdade e o bem, permite a Descartes tomar a «moral como sabedoria» como perfeita e definitiva não obstante a dúvida epistemológica que esta moral traz em seu âmago.

A ciência nas utopias de Campanella, Bacon, Comenius, e Glanvill

Este artigo analisa comparativamente o papel que a ciência e a técnica ocupam nas sociedades descritas em A cidade do Sol de Tommasio Campanella, a Nova Atlântida de Francis Bacon, Panorthosia de Jan Amós Comenius e o Complemento à Nova Atlântida de Joseph Glanvill.

A morte e a vida da arte

Este artigo pretende oferecer uma re-interpretação da suposta tese hegeliana sobre o fim da arte. A especulação estética de Hegel não envolve uma constatação do fim da arte enquanto fenômeno histórico, mas apenas da sua transformação gradual a partir do predomínio da reflexão sobre intuição na idade moderna.

A Quixote mulher - ficção e filosofia

Neste artigo, apresento uma interpretação feminista do romance The Female Quixote, de Charlotte Lennox, publicado em 1752. Em minha hipótese, Lennox responde às acusações de que romances são falsos e, por isso, repreensíveis, ao defender o gênero enquanto instrumento de crítica social e meio de transmissão e obtenção de conhecimentos das mulheres. Assim, ao mesmo tempo em que atribui valor ético, político e epistêmico a narrativas ficcionais, ela contribui também para uma reconceptualização dos conceitos de "verdadeiro" e "falso".

Schiller e os gregos

Este artigo pretende mostrar como se articulam o helenismo classicista e a reflexão sobre a poesia moderna na teoria estética de Schiller, com base em uma breve análise de alguns ensaios do autor, levando em conta comentários de E. M. Butler (A tirania da Grécia sobre a Alemanha) e Peter Szondi.