Beyond Supramolecular Chemistry: Supramolecular and Übersupramolecular Aspects of Chemical Structure and Reactivity: Static and Oscillating Electric and Magnetic Fields, Coherence, and Cooperativity

Abstract

An accepted scientific theory may be viewed as an intellectual structure universally accepted by a community of scientists and termed the community’s paradigm.¹ A mature science, such as Chemistry, is usually governed by a set of paradigms setting the standards for legitimate work within the science it governs. The paradigms, being the set of beliefs driving the intellectual activities, strategies, and methodologies (what can be done, what is worth doing, and how to do it) of the practitioners, coordinate and direct the puzzle-solving activity of normal everyday science. The existence of a paradigm capable of supporting a normal science tradition has been put forth as the most important characteristic that distinguishes a mature science from a developing science or a non-science. The nature of a paradigm is to possess intellectual and physical components and connections that are accepted as necessary and sufficient to describe all observable phenomena.