Difference between revisions of "Alchemy"
(added classic definition of "true purpose of alchemy" as found in some alchemical treatises, both ancient and modern) |
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* Medieval alchemists wanted to turn lead into gold. It was a fruitless endeavor because they used chemical reactions. Nowadays, we know why: [[Chemical reaction]]s cannot change one [[element]] into another. Only [[nucleus|nuclear]] processes, which involve intense energies not available until the 20th century, can accomplish this. [http://www.jupiterscientific.org/review/pseudoscience.html] | * Medieval alchemists wanted to turn lead into gold. It was a fruitless endeavor because they used chemical reactions. Nowadays, we know why: [[Chemical reaction]]s cannot change one [[element]] into another. Only [[nucleus|nuclear]] processes, which involve intense energies not available until the 20th century, can accomplish this. [http://www.jupiterscientific.org/review/pseudoscience.html] | ||
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| + | ==External links== | ||
| + | [http://www.esotericonline.net/group/alchemy/forum/topics/roots-of-alchemy Roots of Alchemy (esotericonline.net)] | ||
Revision as of 08:15, April 1, 2018
Alchemy was a precursor to chemistry. The word is derived from the Arabic الكيمية (Al Kimia), meaning "the art of transformation". The key pursuit of alchemy was to discover a way to turn lead into gold, known as the philosopher's stone. This was as much a spiritual quest as it was a scientific one: the transformation of the base metal of the animal man into the pure gold of a son of God. Unbeknownst to alchemists at the time, gold is an element, and therefore cannot be produced by combining any other elements except through fusion.
Symbolism of alchemy
The symbolism of alchemy is rich and employs many western and eastern traditions. Some of the important symbols of alchemy are Solomons seal, the hermaphrodite, and the four Elements of wind, fire, earth and, water. These symbols are said to be from the period of the legendary alchemist Hermes Trismegistus, founder of the Hermetic arts. These and the other symbols of alchemy are regarded as having psychological significance by Carl Jung, contemporary of Sigmund Freud.
Why it failed
- Medieval alchemists wanted to turn lead into gold. It was a fruitless endeavor because they used chemical reactions. Nowadays, we know why: Chemical reactions cannot change one element into another. Only nuclear processes, which involve intense energies not available until the 20th century, can accomplish this. [1]
