2007-07-10 02:26:29 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
it's an alchemy myth..supposedly it turns stuff into gold
2007-07-10 02:30:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
DazedandConfused is on the right track...
Medieval Alchemists produced a broad range of writings around 'the philosopher's stone'. At first glance, cursory definition, that is...it is understood as a base metal/element theorized at that time to be in existence that would readily be transformed to gold.
Multiple interpretations of the concept (metaphorically interpreted, even) are in existence and make for some fun and potentially enlightening reading for the inquisitive mind.
Enjoy the search!!!!
2007-07-10 09:54:59 · answer #2 · answered by Chance M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is an imaginary stone with many meanings. First one being a stone which can turn ordinary metal into Gold. If you search Wikipedia or other sources you will get more information.
2007-07-10 09:56:29 · answer #3 · answered by Brahmanyan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a bit more than a stone.
Philosophy should be the search for truth;
because of this it is never-ending.
One word of caution though;As most have been taught,
it is like "defining"something;a definition remains-in-
stone,sometimes for a long time,until or if it is re-defined.
(personally,i only make use of definitions with this
knowledge that they..are.. faulty- a useful dictionary
which i know is only an estimate)
(And i didnt realise that "Alchemy" gives-rise to myths,like
the french one/answer below!)
2007-07-10 10:04:24 · answer #4 · answered by peter m 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As with all things mystical it has at least 3 metaphorical levels. The first to turn base metals to gold, the second to achieve immortality, but the "real " interpretation is that it is not a physical object but rather the process that a mystic used to change from their baser, carnal self to enlightened.self.
2007-07-14 08:17:52 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is from Alchemy and could transform lead into gold and make one immortal. Someone asked about Le Comte de Sainte Germaine on here yesterday. He supposedly found it and lived 350 years without aging before committing suicide in Paris in 1975 or so.
2007-07-10 10:48:32 · answer #6 · answered by miyuki & kyojin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is an imaginary stone or substance believed to have power to turn metals into gold.
2007-07-14 04:50:29 · answer #7 · answered by little loved one 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was the MacGuffin for the first Harry Potter book -- although in the U.S. they had to dumb things down (like they always seem to) and change the name to "the Sorcerer's Stone"....
2007-07-10 09:59:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask Harry Potter.
2007-07-14 16:07:13 · answer #9 · answered by lilywort 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋