Towards a Philosophy of Computational Chemistry



 Hi David, greetings to Dr Buyong Ma
 
You said <Buyong Ma...of some interest to you, although from your comments I sense that you are taking a significantly different approach than Ma>
 
You discern correctly. Buyong Ma (1995), <The Philosophy of Computational Chemistry> is refreshing because addressing the wider nature of CC within the environment of science, but different to my concern. My point of departure is me. The most vital concern in my life is me. I want to survive so I can address other things. To survive in real terms, I want to develop a holistic integrated view of of reality. The basic unit is the system of the infinity of universes beyond our home Universe. In hierarchal form, all the fields we know as disciplines, are not isolated things but are linked otherwise they would disintegrate. I mean the Milky Way, solar system, planet earth, biosphere, living things, homo sapiens and so on.
 
The key instruments which explore reality at this time, include cosmology, quantum theory, relativity and higher dimensions theory. Astronomy appears to merely catalogue the celestial bodies. I have yet to see an astronomer discuss why these bodies exist in the heavens? When I was introduced to CC, I was delighted because I naively thought the precision, the 3D and the associated computational power would produce essential data for my Universe model? Alas, like the astronomers, CC seems only concerned with the means and not the ends. CC is intensely focussed on computer programs and delights in addressing techniques.
 
There are a few bold warriors apart from Buyong Ma (1995). Stephen Mason(1991), Chemical Evolution - Origins of the Elements, Molecules and Living Systems, Clarendon Press Oxford, but closer to my vision - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1955), The Phenomenon of Man, Fontana Books. Review by Arnold Toynee Observer - <This is a great book. Its subject is the sum of things: nothing less than God and the universe. Teilhard sees and presents the universe in evolution, but at the same time as unity. His vision of unity meets a spiritual need of our time>
 
I believe computational chemistry is more than mere mensuration and rotating images. I am sure molecules were created as the essential building blocks of the infinite universe system. I want to set out the physical, mental, social and spiritual nature of living things and our Universe. I am intensely interested in Origins? I am sure the findings of CC form an important part of this unfolding story.
 Dr Henry Pang
 Postgraduate Student, Computational Chemistry
 Faculty of Science, Information Technology and Education
 Northern Territory University
 PO Box U273 NT University 0815 Australia
 Mobile 0419 682121 Fax 61 8 8946 6847 hpangaus -x- at -x- hotmail.com
 
 From: "David  Hakala" <hakalad -x- at -x- ameritech.net>
 To: "Henry Pang" <hpangaus -x- at -x- hotmail.com>
 Subject: Re: CCL:Seeing molecular orbitals?
 Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000 06:26:34 -0500
 
This is my attempt to try again....all I have to do is click on the link and
 it goes directly to site,,,,I am using IE5 for a browser.
 http://alphanla.chem.uga.edu/~buyong/philo/philo.html
 ----- Original Message -----
 From: "Henry Pang" <hpangaus -x- at -x- hotmail.com>
 To: <hakalad -x- at -x- ameritech.net>
 Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2000 11:39 PM
 Subject: Re: CCL:Seeing molecular orbitals?
 > Hi David
 >
 > I would love to see it. Unfortunately I cannot raise after several ways.
 > Could you sent it again? Thanks
 >
 > Henry
 >
 >
 > >From: "David  Hakala" <hakalad -x- at -x-
 ameritech.net>
 > >To: "Henry Pang" <hpangaus -x- at -x- hotmail.com>,
 <CHEMISTRY -x- at -x- ccl.net>
 > >CC: <vinutha.ramakrishna -x- at -x- ntu.edu.au>, <Ted.Lloyd
 -x- at -x- vcp.monash.edu.au>,
 > ><marg -x- at -x- freon.chem.swin.edu.au>, <Brian.Yates -x- at
 -x- chem.utas.edu.au>,
 > ><b_duke -x- at -x- lacebark.ntu.edu.au>
 > >Subject: Re: CCL:Seeing molecular orbitals?
 > >Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 23:35:27 -0500
 > >
 > >Henry are you familiar with the following link:
 > >http://alphanla.chem.uga.edu/~buyong/philo/philo.html
 
> >This is a summary of a thesis on the Philosophy of Computational Quantum
 > >Chemistry by Dr. Buyong Ma done at the University of Georgia, which may
 be
 
> >of some interest to you, although from your comments I sense that you are
 > >taking a significantly different approach than Ma.
 > >                     Dave Hakala
 > >----- Original Message -----
 > >From: "Henry Pang" <hpangaus -x- at -x- hotmail.com>
 > >To: <CHEMISTRY -x- at -x- ccl.net>
 > >Cc: <vinutha.ramakrishna -x- at -x- ntu.edu.au>; <Ted.Lloyd
 -x- at -x- vcp.monash.edu.au>;
 > ><marg -x- at -x- freon.chem.swin.edu.au>; <Brian.Yates -x- at
 -x- chem.utas.edu.au>;
 > ><b_duke -x- at -x- lacebark.ntu.edu.au>
 > >Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2000 7:05 PM
 > >Subject: CCL:Seeing molecular orbitals?
 > >
 > >
 > > > Hi Jens (Denmark)
 > > >
 > > > You said <But strictly speaking, this does not turn MOs into
 > > > >observable quantities; MOs have no physical existence>
 > > >
 > > > I am new to computational chemistry. My background is medicine
 and
 human
 > > > ecology in Australia. Your post is the first indicator I have
 seen
 over
 > >a
 
> > > wide range of CCL and books which signals caution. I am overwhelmed by
 > >the
 > > > volume and intensity of work on the methodology and mensuration
 of
 > > > molecules, as if that were the end in itself. No where do I see
 any
 > >concern
 
> > > for a Philosophy of Computational Chemistry, which addresses just what
 > >is
 
> > > computational chemistry and what its purpose might be in our Universe.
 I
 > > > cannot believe the objective is merely to measure everything and
 simply
 > > > document these data?
 > > >
 > > > Even at my early stage, I am seriously pondering writing material
 > >jointly
 
> > > with my academic supervisor who is a computational chemist, which sets
 > >out
 > > > the link (as I see it) between cosmology, quantum theory,
 relativity
 and
 > > > higher dimensions theory on the one hand and computational
 chemistry
 on
 > >the
 > > > other. I think molecules are the beautiful building blocks of our
 > >Universe
 > > > and created for a purpose. I decline the view molecules are just
 chance
 
> > > particles. I suspect from my reading of CCL, my intention may be seen
 as
 > > > revolutionary if not outrageous and could well cause an uproar?
 > > >
 > > > Best wishes from Australia
 > > >
 > > > Dr Henry Pang
 > > > Postgraduate Student, Computational Chemistry
 > > > Faculty of Science, Information Technology and Education
 > > > Northern Territory University
 > > > PO Box U273 NT University 0815 Australia
 > > > Mobile 61 419 682121 Fax 61 8 8946 6847 hpangaus -x- at -x-
 hotmail.com
 > > >
 
> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 > > >
 > > > >From: "Jens Spanget-Larsen" <jsl -x- at -x-
 virgil.ruc.dk>
 > > > >To: CHEMISTRY -x- at -x- ccl.net
 > > > >Subject: CCL:Seeing molecular orbitals?
 > > > >Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2000 10:43:01 +0100
 > > > >
 > > > >Dear CCL:
 > > > >
 > > > >In a recent, most interesting publication ('Seeing molecular
 orbitals',
 
> > > >Chem.Phys.Letters 321, 78-82 [2000]) scanning tunneling microscopy is
 > >used
 > > > >to
 
> > > >observe the shapes of single molecular orbitals of the fullerene C60:
 > > > >
 > > > >   "..the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is probing
 a single
 > >molecular
 > > > >   orbital (MO)."
 > > > >
 > > > >However, this reminds me of previous statements in the
 literature
 some
 > >time
 > > > >ago, associated with the advent of molecular photoelectron
 > >spectroscopy,
 > > > >f.i.
 > > > >
 > > > >   "Chemists can see the orbital structure of even
 fairly large
 > >molecules
 > > > >and no
 > > > >   longer have to rely on the predictions of
 theoreticians"
 > > > >
 > > > >   "Photoelectron spectroscopy has demonstrated
 experimentally to
 > >chemists,
 > > > >   physicists and other sceptics that molecular orbitals
 really do
 > >exist"
 > > > >
 
> > > >I wonder whether this is acceptable terminology, considering the fact
 > > > >that molecular orbitals are model constructs; they are not
 physical
 > > > >observables. By using approximations, such as Koopmans'
 approximation,
 > >many
 
> > > >experimental observations can be conveniently interpreted in terms of
 > > > >theoretical MO data. But strictly speaking, this does not
 turn MOs
 into
 > > > >observable quantities; MOs have no physical existence.
 > > > >
 > > > >Any comments?
 > > > >
 > > > >Yours, Jens >--<
 > > > >
 > > >
 >=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 > > > >JENS SPANGET-LARSEN         Phone:  +45 4674 2000  (RUC)
 > > > >Department of Chemistry             +45 4674 2710  (direct)
 > > > >Roskilde University (RUC)   Fax:    +45 4674 3011
 > > > >P.O.Box 260                 E-Mail: JSL -x- at -x-
 virgil.ruc.dk
 > > > >DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark   http://www.rub.ruc.dk/dis/chem/psos/
 > > >
 >=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 
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