|
identifying the changing characteristics that defined alchemy. For sake |
|
identifying the changing characteristics that defined alchemy. For the sake |
|
Asked the common man of the street what the alchemists were, and one |
|
Ask the common man on the street what the alchemists were, and one |
|
for a single sentence definition it is not too incorrect. |
|
for a single sentence definition it is not altogether incorrect. |
|
Historians of a more occultists bent look at the alchemists as true |
|
Historians of a more occultist bent look at the alchemists as true |
|
gold. beyond this, occultists saw th e alchemists as religious mystics who tried to discover the secret to purifying man's soul through |
|
gold. beyond this, occultists see the alchemists as religious mystics who tried to discover the secret of purifying man's soul through |
|
Another view looks at the alchemists in a more philosophical way, |
|
Another view looks at the alchemists in a more philosophical way; |
|
intentionally wrote cryptically, it seams to have been a hallmark of |
|
intentionally wrote cryptically. It seems to have been a hallmark of |
|
the cryptical phrasings of their works. It is almost a tradition among |
|
the cryptic phrasings of their works. It is almost a tradition among |
|
alchemical texts is, sadly, completely lost to modern scholars. |
|
alchemical texts is, sadly, completely lost to modern scholars. It is possible that it perished with the library at Alexandria, along with so much written material of the time. |
|
conviction that earthly matter is evil and by learning about the nature of matter will lead to salvation. By the end of the Roman Empire these |
|
conviction that earthly matter is evil and that learning about the nature of spiritual matter would lead to salvation. By the end of the Roman Empire these |
|
moving on, Augustian views of science should be illustrated, as they had |
|
moving on, Augustinian views of science should be illustrated, as they had |
|
made available to the West they were not shunned. Still Augustinian |
|
made available to the West they were not shunned. Still, Augustinian |
|
According to Aristotle, each element had a sphere which it belonged to and would return to if left undisturbed. (Lindsay, p. 16) Alchemists |
|
According to Aristotle, each element had a sphere to which it belonged and to which it would return if left undisturbed. (Lindsay, p. 16) Alchemists |
|
and two were exterior. For example, lead was cold and dry and got was hot and moist. Thus, Jabir, theorized, by rearranging the qualities of |
|
and two were exterior. For example, lead was cold and dry and gold was hot and moist. Thus, Jabir theorized, by rearranging the qualities of |
|
the extent and effects have not been researched to any worthwhile |
|
the extent and effects of this fact have not been researched to any worthwhile |
|
philosophical explosion to occur. Saint Abelard followed in Anselm's work, laying the foundation Aristotelian thought before the first works |
|
philosophical explosion to occur. Saint Abelard followed Anselm's work, laying the foundation for acceptance of Aristotelian thought before the first works |
|
outside of man's conscience. Abelard also systematized the analysis of |
|
outside of man's consciousness. Abelard also systematized the analysis of |
|
Bacon. His work did as much for alchemy as Robert Boyle did for chemistry and Galileo did for astronomy and |
|
Bacon. His work did as much for alchemy as Robert Boyle's did for chemistry and Galileo's did for astronomy and |
|
few people outside the secular schools had the education |
|
few people outside the parochial schools had the education |
|
gold) as well as purify the soul. They believed in the |
|
gold) as well as purifying the soul. They believed in the |
|
universe operated. Their entire philosophy was based |
|
universe operated. Their entire philosophy revolved |
|
between faith and reason. According to his view, widely |
|
between faith and reason. His view, widely |
|
alone, He could not be limited by human reason. Of course, this view was not incorrect, but it virtually |
|
alone; He could not be limited by human reason. Of course this view was not incorrect if one accepted the postulate of a limitless God versus limited human reasoning capability, but it virtually |
|
which he is reputed to have found; he spends a great deal |
|
which he is reputed to have found; his work spends a great deal |
|
lead to a wide interpretation of the art and, while many |
|
lead to wide variations in interpretation of the art and, while many |
|
alchemists who interpreted the purification of the soul to |
|
alchemists interpreted the purification of the soul to |
|
influences were negligible, but like Flamel, he produced writings which were referred back to by alchemists of |
|
influence was negligible, but like Flamel, he produced writings which were referred to by alchemists of |
|
Alchemy continued in this way through the opening scenes of the Renaissance. Alchemist/con-artists abounded, who would use popular beliefs and slight of hand to convince a noteworthy person such as a professor or a |
|
Alchemy continued in this way through the dawning of the Renaissance. Alchemist/con-artists abounded, who would use popular beliefs and sleight of hand to convince a noteworthy person such as a professor or |
|
dogma was the last "ism" to be latched onto alchemy before |
|
dogma was the last "ism" to be grafted onto alchemy before |
|
so much Aristotelean theory that his rejection of it was |
|
so much Aristotelean theory that his rejection of Aristotle was |
|
and deprecated those who did. (Williams p.239-45) |
|
and scorned those who did. (Williams p.239-45) |
|
microcosm and Nature the macrocosm. He took and approach different than those before him, using this analogy not in the soul-purification manner but in the manner that humans |
|
microcosm and Nature the macrocosm. He took an approach different from those before him, using this analogy not in the manner of soul-purification but in the manner that humans |
|
and in the manner that certain illnesses of the body had chemical remedies that could cure the sicknesses. (Debus & Multhauf, p.6-12) His views were summarized by himself: |
|
and that certain illnesses of the body had chemical remedies that could cure them. (Debus & Multhauf, p.6-12) He summarized his own views: |
|
medicine and chemistry. Alchemists had disposed of most |
|
medicine and chemistry. By Boyle's time, alchemists had disposed of most |
|
this. he assumed nothing in his experiments and compiled |
|
this. He assumed nothing in his experiments and compiled |
|
thrown to the waste bucket, unneeded and forgotten. it is hard to believe that alchemy, after having such a rich and colorful two thousand years of history could be so easily and so totally ostracized by scientists and common |
|
thrown to the waste bucket, unneeded and forgotten. It is sobering to observe that alchemy, after having such a rich and colorful two thousand years of history - during which it enjoyed the preeminent position among scientific studies - could be so easily and totally ostracized by scientists and common |
![[Home]](wikipedia.png)