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Fawwaaz asked:
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Can I get detailed information on philosophical alchemy?
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============
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From our modern scientific point of view, "alchemy addresses concerns of practical metallurgy"
(Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy). From a less condescending attitude alchemy has it's very
foundations just like modern science. Alchemistic research is based on theories of (ancient) natural
philosophy (consider, that Geniuses like Paracelsus and Newton were "natural philosophers" or
"alchemists"; of course there were also charlatans). Some of the main ideas/theories are:
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- Alchemy is based on the early Greek theory, that all of the different substances are only different
outward appearance of one and the same primary matter. Therefore it must be possible to:
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*Purify
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*Change
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*Create (in terms of "with new properties")
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substances.
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- The idea that all matter on Earth was made from a mixture of four basic 'elements' air, earth, fire
and water, dates back to Empedocles out of which Aristotle formulated the theory of elements and
their mixtures. Alchemists believed that if they could discover the proportions in which those elements
were mixed, they would be able to change them, and by that, they would alter the nature of matter.
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- Another main concept of alchemy is that of analogy. The most famous formulation in the time of the
alchemists is the one awarded to Hermes Trismegistos: "It is true, certain, and without falsehood, that
whatever is below is like that which is above; and that which is above is like that which is below: to
accomplish the one wonderful work" (philosophical alchemy knows altogether seven hermetical
principles).
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- Another very important source is Book VII of Plato's Republic,for the analogy of the divided line
plays a central role in philosophical alchemy. The four ways of knowing our world (image thinking,
believing, understanding, and knowing) and their uses, can all be found in the divided line model. This
analogy works to help us, as Plato says, understand dialectic, the heart of philosophy, by learning the
perfect model of the Good. The analogy prepares to understand the principles of philosophical
alchemy.
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- Jung's interpretation of alchemy shows close parallels to Platonic thought, and remarkably close
similarities to the divided line analogy. He explains how throughout most of the Christian era in
Europe, Platonic philosophy survived hidden within the strange, arcane tradition of philosophical
alchemy, a tradition filled with hidden meanings and elaborately coded messages, for example the
Philosopher's Stone was said to produce "immortality", meaning spiritual perfection. You will find a
very thorough treatise on philosophical alchemy in C.G. Jung's Mysterium Coniunctionis(Trade
Paperback, 1977). Jung's last work of book length, centers on the problems of philosophical alchemy,
and in particular the synthesis of opposites.
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Also very interesting: The Forge and the Crucible: Origins and Structures of Alchemy by Mircea
Eliade, Paperback, 1979) There's also an online collection of texts on philosophical alchemy at:
http://www.levity.com/alchemy/texts.html.
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Simone Klein
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