The Artificial Intelligence Explanatory Trade-Off on the Logic of Discovery in Chemistry
Explanation is a foundational goal in the exact sciences. Besides the contemporary considerations on ‘description’, ‘classification’, and ‘prediction’, we often see these terms in thriving applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in chemistry hypothesis generation. Going beyond describing ‘thing...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-02-01
|
| Series: | Philosophies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/8/2/17 |
| _version_ | 1827295429180522496 |
|---|---|
| author | José Ferraz-Caetano |
| author_facet | José Ferraz-Caetano |
| author_sort | José Ferraz-Caetano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Explanation is a foundational goal in the exact sciences. Besides the contemporary considerations on ‘description’, ‘classification’, and ‘prediction’, we often see these terms in thriving applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in chemistry hypothesis generation. Going beyond describing ‘things in the world’, these applications can make accurate numerical property calculations from theoretical or topological descriptors. This association makes an interesting case for a logic of discovery in chemistry: are these induction-led ventures showing a shift in how chemists can problematize research questions? In this article, I present a fresh perspective on the current context of discovery in chemistry. I argue how data-driven statistical predictions in chemistry can be explained as a quasi-logical process for generating chemical theories, beyond the classic examples of organic and theoretical chemistry. Through my position on formal models of scientific explanation, I demonstrate how the dawn of AI can provide novel insights into the explanatory power of scientific endeavors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:37:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5be4c0b55a55489499115e52319b1287 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2409-9287 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T14:19:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Philosophies |
| spelling | doaj.art-5be4c0b55a55489499115e52319b12872024-04-03T07:41:08ZengMDPI AGPhilosophies2409-92872023-02-01821710.3390/philosophies8020017The Artificial Intelligence Explanatory Trade-Off on the Logic of Discovery in ChemistryJosé Ferraz-Caetano0LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, PortugalExplanation is a foundational goal in the exact sciences. Besides the contemporary considerations on ‘description’, ‘classification’, and ‘prediction’, we often see these terms in thriving applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in chemistry hypothesis generation. Going beyond describing ‘things in the world’, these applications can make accurate numerical property calculations from theoretical or topological descriptors. This association makes an interesting case for a logic of discovery in chemistry: are these induction-led ventures showing a shift in how chemists can problematize research questions? In this article, I present a fresh perspective on the current context of discovery in chemistry. I argue how data-driven statistical predictions in chemistry can be explained as a quasi-logical process for generating chemical theories, beyond the classic examples of organic and theoretical chemistry. Through my position on formal models of scientific explanation, I demonstrate how the dawn of AI can provide novel insights into the explanatory power of scientific endeavors.https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/8/2/17logic of discoveryscientific explanationtheory generationphilosophy of chemistry |
| spellingShingle | José Ferraz-Caetano The Artificial Intelligence Explanatory Trade-Off on the Logic of Discovery in Chemistry Philosophies logic of discovery scientific explanation theory generation philosophy of chemistry |
| title | The Artificial Intelligence Explanatory Trade-Off on the Logic of Discovery in Chemistry |
| title_full | The Artificial Intelligence Explanatory Trade-Off on the Logic of Discovery in Chemistry |
| title_fullStr | The Artificial Intelligence Explanatory Trade-Off on the Logic of Discovery in Chemistry |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Artificial Intelligence Explanatory Trade-Off on the Logic of Discovery in Chemistry |
| title_short | The Artificial Intelligence Explanatory Trade-Off on the Logic of Discovery in Chemistry |
| title_sort | artificial intelligence explanatory trade off on the logic of discovery in chemistry |
| topic | logic of discovery scientific explanation theory generation philosophy of chemistry |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9287/8/2/17 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joseferrazcaetano theartificialintelligenceexplanatorytradeoffonthelogicofdiscoveryinchemistry AT joseferrazcaetano artificialintelligenceexplanatorytradeoffonthelogicofdiscoveryinchemistry |