In the history of science, alchemy refers to both an early form of the investigation of nature and an early philosophical and spiritual discipline, both combining elements of chemistry, metallurgy, physics, medicine, astrology, semiotics, mysticism, spiritualism, and art. Alchemy has been practiced in Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Persia, India, and China, in Classical Greece and Rome, in Muslim civilization, and then in Europe up to the 19th century—in a complex network of schools and philosophical systems spanning at least 2500 years.
Western alchemy has always been closely connected with Hermeticism, a philosophical and spiritual system that traces its roots to Hermes Trismegistus, a syncretic Egyptian-Greek deity and legendary alchemist. These two disciplines influenced the birth of Rosicrucianism, an important esoteric movement of the seventeenth century. In the course of the early modern period, mainstream alchemy evolved into modern chemistry.
Today, the discipline is of interest mainly to historians of science and philosophy, and for its mystic, esoteric, and artistic aspects. Nevertheless, alchemy was one of the main precursors of modern sciences, and many substances and processes of ancient alchemy continue to be the mainstay of modern chemical and metallurgical industries.
Although alchemy takes on many forms, in pop culture it is most often cited in stories, films, shows, and games as the process used to change lead (or other elements) into gold.
2006-12-17 01:47:17
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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"Real Alchemy" is essentially "Practical" Alchemy - as opposed to "Spiritual" Alchemy, such as that described by the psychologist Carl Jung. Contemporary "Practical" Alchemists do real laboratory work, whereas proponents of the Jungian interpretation of Alchemy practice interior psychological work. Whereas the Practical Alchemist attempts to accomplish transformations of matter in his retort, the Spiritual Alchemist attempts to accomplish the transformation of his own spiritual nature. Modern Practical Alchemists do not subscribe to the notion that Alchemy is either Practical or Spiritual. Adepts of Practical Alchemy recognize that their own spiritual transformation goes hand-in-hand with the Practical laboratory work. That is to say, the spiritual state of the Practical Alchemist is an important factor leading to the success or failure of his operation. This is the essential difference between Alchemy and Chemistry. Chemistry operations must be replicable, by anyone at any time. Alchemical operations need not be. Their success is dependent on various variables -- such as the spiritual state of the Alchemist and his helpers and the environment of his lab. This is discussed in much greater detail in a new book on the subject called, appropriately enough, "Real Alchemy: A Primer of Practical Alchemy" by Robert Allen Bartlett. (The book is currently available at amazon.com.) Robert Bartlett is a degreed chemist, but he is also an initiated Alchemist at the Adept level, having studied with the twentieth century's most well-known Alchemist -- Dr. Albert Reidel, also known as Frater Albertus. There are at least two other recently published books on the subject of Practical (or Real) Alchemy: "Path of Alchemy: Energetic Healing & the World of Natural Magic" by Mark Stavish and "Alchemy (The Weiser Concise Guide Series) " by Brian Cotnoir. The notion they expound is that, contrary to modern scientific dogma, the ancient practice of the Art of Alchemy continues to survive, even as the Science of Chemistry continues to demonstrate its utility. According to the ancient tradition, material subjects can be "transformed" from one state to a higher, more evolved one. Each transformation is a purification of the matter, thus an evolution. This is the analogy that the Jungians find so useful in describing the transformation of one's spiritual state.
2006-12-19 18:37:52
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answer #2
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answered by St. Germain 1
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The common perception of alchemists is that they were pseudo-scientists who attempted to turn lead into gold
Goals of alchemy:
The transmutation of metals
The creation of an elixir that would prolong life indefinitely
real alchemy:
In 1919, Ernest Rutherford used artificial disintegration to convert nitrogen into oxygen. This process or transmutation has subsequently been carried out on a commercial scale by bombarding atomic nuclei with high energy particles from modern particle accelerators and in nuclear reactors. Indeed, in 1980, Glenn Seaborg transmuted lead into gold, though the amount of energy used and the microscopic quantities created negated any possible financial benefit.
2006-12-17 01:49:42
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Organic Chemistry has its roots in Alchemy, but the real Alchemist, the men who have made one element into another are nuclear physicist who use colliders to break and combine the atomic nuclei.
2006-12-17 02:39:42
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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My comprehend-how of what alchemy is differs from what others right here for sure have faith it to be. I thoroughly settle for that present day physics and chemistry have geared up up a finished, interlinked shape of theories that specify very properly why the failings we see interior the fabric international are as they're and why ingredients work together as they do. And, given which you would be able to not %. and decide which factors of that shape of theories you prefer to have faith and which you forget approximately because of the fact they provide the impact of being inconvenient, it style of feels notably probably that it extremely is impossible for there ever to be a substance that's able to turning base metallic into gold without some fairly intense-ability action happening; action lots warmer than any alchemists hearth is ever probably to get, no remember how perplexing he works the bellows. And yet... And yet there is a lot approximately alchemy which i come across beautiful. a great variety of it style of feels to me to be BS of the utmost purity, yet there are some beautiful innovations and in simple terms the slightest danger that mainstream technology in simple terms would have chucked out some issues of cost alongside with the garbage. The under web content are unlikely to instruct you the way you're able to make the Stone on your kitchen range and alter the lead on your motor vehicle battery to gold, yet there is extra suitable than sufficient accessible to enable you to get a depiction of what actual present day alchemy is approximately. stable success.
2016-12-30 13:17:34
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answer #5
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answered by ? 3
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yeah, real alchemy is turning metals into gold or something like that, people who are caught doing that are hanged by the king
if you look at newton, he was an alchemist also so the activity he is doing is modern chemistry
2006-12-17 02:24:08
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy
2006-12-17 01:46:17
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answer #7
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answered by James Chan 4
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Fixing your pic, it will make universal differences to your life and the rest
2006-12-17 01:44:19
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answer #8
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answered by Tonia 3
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ORCAL SUCKS
2006-12-17 01:42:56
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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