Alchemy - Education (definition)

"Alchemist" redirects here. For other uses, see Alchemist (disambiguation).

For other uses, see Alchemy (disambiguation).

Page from alchemic treatise of Ramon Llull, 16th century

Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base metals into thenoble metals gold or silver, as well as an elixir of life conferring youth and immortality. Western alchemy is recognized as a protoscience that contributed to the development of modern chemistry and medicine. Alchemists developed a framework of theory, terminology, experimental process and basic laboratory techniques that is still recognizable today. But alchemy differs from modern science in the inclusion of Hermetic principles and practices related tomythology, religion, and spirituality.

OVERVIEW

The best known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of common metals into gold or silver, and the creation of a "panacea," a remedy that supposedly would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely; and the discovery of a universal solvent.^[1] Modern discussions of alchemy are generally split into an examination of its exoteric practical applications, and its esoteric aspects. The former is pursued by historians of the physical sciences who have examined the subject in terms of proto-chemistry, medicine, and charlatanism. The latter is of interest to the historians of esotericism, psychologists, spiritual and new age communities, and hermetic philosophers.^[2] The subject has also made an ongoing impact on literature and the arts. Despite the modern split, numerous sources stress an integration of esoteric and exoteric approaches to alchemy. Holmyard, when writing on exoteric aspects, states that they can not be properly appreciated if the esoteric is not always kept in mind.^[3] The prototype for this model can be found in Bolos of Mendes' second century BCE work, Physika kai Mystika (On Physical and Mystical Matters).^[4] Marie-Louise von Franz tells us the double approach of Western alchemy was set from the start, when Greek philosophy was mixed with Egyptian and Mesopotamian technology. The technological, operative approach, which she callsextraverted, and the mystic, contemplative, psychological one, which she calls introverted are not mutually exclusive, but complementary instead, as meditation requires practice in the real world, and conversely.^[5]

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Contents   [hide]  1 Overview 1.1 Relation to the science of chemistry 1.2 Relation to Hermeticism 2 Etymology 3 History 3.1 Alchemy in Greco-Roman Egypt 3.2 Alchemy in the Islamic world 3.3 Alchemy in Medieval Europe 3.4 Alchemy in the Renaissance and modern age 3.5 The decline of Western alchemy 3.6 Indian alchemy 3.7 Chinese alchemy 3.8 Alchemy as a subject of historical research 4 Modern alchemy 4.1 Alchemy in traditional medicine 4.2 Nuclear transmutation 4.3 Psychology 5 Magnum opus 6 See also 7 Notes and references 8 Bibliography 9 External links

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