Soft matter - an emergent interdisciplinary science of emergent entities

TY - CHAP

T1 - Soft matter - an emergent interdisciplinary science of emergent entities

AU - McLeish, Tom

PY - 2019/1/1

Y1 - 2019/1/1

N2 - This chapter deals with a discussion of two relevant examples of philosophical interest and closes with an assessment of the application of soft matter physics to biological systems. First, the energy scale of internal interactions in soft matter is comparable to the quantum of thermal energy. Second, mesoscopic structure or order at the length scale of several nanometers is almost ubiquitous in soft matter systems. The scientific history of soft matter science was propelled by a combination of communication within the scientific community, intrinsic conceptual overlap and commonality and visionary leadership from a small number of pioneering scientists. The language strongly indicates not simply a summation of research programmes, but the recognised emergence of a new field of science. The application of soft matter science to the analysis of biological and bio-inspired phenomena increases the interdisciplinary palette even further. The interdisciplinary nature of the sub-discipline of soft matter is remarkably broad.

AB - This chapter deals with a discussion of two relevant examples of philosophical interest and closes with an assessment of the application of soft matter physics to biological systems. First, the energy scale of internal interactions in soft matter is comparable to the quantum of thermal energy. Second, mesoscopic structure or order at the length scale of several nanometers is almost ubiquitous in soft matter systems. The scientific history of soft matter science was propelled by a combination of communication within the scientific community, intrinsic conceptual overlap and commonality and visionary leadership from a small number of pioneering scientists. The language strongly indicates not simply a summation of research programmes, but the recognised emergence of a new field of science. The application of soft matter science to the analysis of biological and bio-inspired phenomena increases the interdisciplinary palette even further. The interdisciplinary nature of the sub-discipline of soft matter is remarkably broad.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85069157352&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.4324/9781315675213-21

DO - 10.4324/9781315675213-21

M3 - Chapter

AN - SCOPUS:85069157352

SN - 9781138925083

SP - 248

EP - 264

BT - The Routledge Handbook of Emergence

PB - Taylor & Francis

ER -