Critical realism distinguishes the ‘real’ world from the ‘observable’ one, which scientists explore as actors rather than as passive, neutral observers. Through this lens, it is clear that a diverse community that interrogates the world from different angles is an asset to the practice of chemistry itself.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Adendorff, H. & Blackie, M. Decolonising the science curriculum: when good intentions are not enough. In Building Knowledge In Higher Education: Enhancing Teaching And Learning With LCT (eds Winburg, C. et al.) (Routledge, 2020).
Blackie, M. A. L. J. Crit. Real. 21, 401–415 (2022).
Rauch, J. The Constitution Of Knowledge (Brookings Institution, 2021).
Bhaskar, R. A Realist Theory Of Science (Routledge, 1978).
Fabbrizzi, L. J. Chem. Educ. 85, 1501 (2008).
Longino, H. E. Science as Social Knowledge: Values and Objectivity in Scientific Inquiry (Princeton Univ. Press, 2020); https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691020518/science-as-social-knowledge
Hofstra, B. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 117, 9284–9291 (2020).
Kramer, K. Angewandte essay calling diversity in chemistry harmful decried as ‘abhorrent’ and ‘egregious’. Chemistry World (9 June 2020); https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/angewandte-essay-calling-diversity-in-chemistry-harmful-decried-as-abhorrent-and-egregious/4011926.article
Hlatshwayo, M., Adendorff, H., Blackie, M., Maluleka, P. & Fataar, A. Linking decoloniality to knowledge building. In Decolonising Knowledge And Knowers: Struggles For University Transformation In South Africa (eds Hlatshwayo, M. et al.) (Routledge, 2022).
McClellan, J. E. III & Regourd, F. Osiris 15, 31–50 (2000).
Chaudhuri, K. N. Precious metals and mining in the New World: 1500–1800. Eur. Rev. 2, 261–270 (1994).
Govier, M. The Royal Society, slavery and the island of Jamaica: 1660–1700. Notes Rec. R. Soc. 53, 53203–53217 (1999).
Biyela, S. Decolonizing science writing in South Africa. The Open Notebook (12 February 2019); https://www.theopennotebook.com/2019/02/12/decolonizing-science-writing-in-south-africa/
Lalemi, L. M. Decolonising my mind. Chemistry World (18 November 2020); https://www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/decolonising-my-mind/4012694.article
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The author declares no competing interests
Peer review
Peer review information
Nature Chemistry thanks Sibusiso Biyela, Ciaran Boyle and Lara Mosunmola Lalemi for their contribution to the peer review of this work.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Blackie, M.A.L. Implications of a critical realism approach to chemistry research and education. Nat. Chem. 15, 1047–1050 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-023-01274-2
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-023-01274-2