Do you believe in alchemy?

Question

I believe in alchemy and its not just because of the anime Full Metal Alchemist....its just gahh, i believe in itt, I believe it was a connection to modern scienceeee.....it just stopped...and continued in a parallel world.
idk about the last part but i believe...do u? or do u think its foolish??

Answer 1

alchemy was the precursor to chemistry.
in arabic al-chimia means the chemirstry. so in a way alchemy continued and thanks to it you're able to have lots of the things u have and eat processed food.

Answer 2

actually alchemy is real, while it may not work quite like it does in FMA, alchemy is indeed real. All alchemy is, is combining of different chemicals or substances to create new substances. And if i'm not mistaken, alchemy was used to create gun powder by the chinese....

oh and also, the philosophers stone they refer to in FMA, also based on fact. Ancient alchemist did believe that they could make a stone that could produce gold and prolong life, though there are no indications that such a stone was ever actually concieved and most likely never will be....its a good dream though....


fireryphilosophyangel....your gettin a bit cocky aren't you? I mean almost everyone who answered had the same answer as your only shorter and easier to read..how can u say none of us know what we're talking about? we all had roughly the same answer.....just because urs is longer and more in depth doesn't mean your any better than us, i can do a yahoo search and pull up a long winded explanation if i want too.

Answer 3

Alchemy: A pseudo science that sought to 1. Find the Touchstone, a type of lodestone that would change base metals into gold; 2. Find the Elixir of Life to prolong life indefinitely.

1. Now scientists can change base metals into gold in a lab using a cyclotron (an atom smasher). The process is cost prohibitive as it uses too much energy.

2. Now modern medicine and science has prolonged life...

So the goals of the Alchemist were not so unrealistic and research is ongoing, however, it is now called 'science.' Final Note: We also now know that elements can only be changed on a subatomic level, It can't be done chemically; perhaps this is why Alchemists were searching for the Touchstone, a lodestone that perhaps did effect elements on a subatomic level. Who know!

H

Answer 4

[edit] Alchemy in the age of science
Western alchemy was a forerunner of modern scientific chemistry. Alchemists used many of the same tools that we use today. These tools were not usually sturdy or in good condition, especially during the Dark Ages of Europe. Many transmutation attempts failed when alchemists unwittingly made unstable chemicals. This was made worse by the unsafe conditions.

Up to the 16th century, alchemy was considered serious science in Europe; for instance, Isaac Newton devoted considerably more of his time and writing to the study of alchemy (see Isaac Newton's occult studies) than he did to either optics or physics, for which he is famous. Other eminent alchemists of the Western world are Roger Bacon, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Tycho Brahe, Thomas Browne, and Parmigianino. The decline of alchemy began in the 18th century with the birth of modern chemistry, which provided a more precise and reliable framework for matter transmutations and medicine, within a new grand design of the universe based on rational materialism.

In the first half of the nineteenth century, one established chemist, Baron Carl Reichenbach, worked on concepts similar to the old alchemy, such as the Odic force, but his research did not enter the mainstream of scientific discussion.

Matter transmutation, the old goal of alchemy, enjoyed a moment in the sun in the 20th century when physicists were able to convert lead atoms into gold atoms via a nuclear reaction. However, the new gold atoms, being unstable isotopes, lasted for under five seconds before they broke apart. More recently, reports of table-top element transmutation—by means of electrolysis or sonic cavitation—were the pivot of the cold fusion controversy of 1989. None of those claims have yet been reliably duplicated.

Alchemical symbolism has been occasionally used in the 20th century by psychologists and philosophers. Carl Jung reexamined alchemical symbolism and theory and began to show the inner meaning of alchemical work as a spiritual path. Alchemical philosophy, symbols and methods have enjoyed something of a renaissance in post-modern contexts, such as the New Age movement.

Answer 5

Alchemy has evolved into chemistry, true. But on it's own, it is still being studied, it hasn't just stopped. In ancient times the ultimate goal was to produce the philosphers stone and be able to turn metals into gold and achieve immortality, but today the goals have changed. The goal is more to see what you can do on a broader scale.
While chemistry is a science, Alchemy includes more Ritual and spirituality in its workings and requires faith in order to work properly. That's going to sound like a load of crap to some, but to those of us who work with alchemy, we know it to be true.
It originally was a mix of Greek philosophy, Middle Eastern mysticism and Egyptian metallurgy. Wisdom + Faith + Knowledge of specific components = Alchemy success.

Answer 6

No alchemy isn't true. If it were we could do things more easier. Full Metal Alchemist is only made from a person who has a great imagination

Answer 7

I think that you and most of the people who responded to your question have no clue about what alchemy is.

This is an answer I posted to a similar question on this site.

Alchemy, in one sense, was an early form of chemistry and pharmacy. Some alchemists really were just dabbling with chemical experiments and also were really trying to manufacture gold by fermenting minerals and organic substances in glass containers. They wrote about their experimental laboratory observations in symbolic language. Sir Isaac Newton was an alchemist as was the "father" of modern pharmacy, known as Paracelsus, and another 16th century guy named Boyle, is regarded as the "father" of modern chemistry.

On another level, alchemy was--and still is--a highly esoteric spiritual discipline in which the alchemical laboratory process is a metaphor and also an adjunct to meditation practices that lead to spiritual realization and transformations--much like the spiritual transformations that occur for people who practice certain forms of Tantric yoga. Spiritual alchemists were trying to perfect themselves just as they were trying to manufacture "pure" essences and minerals in their laboratory experiments. In certain forms of yoga, the goal is to transcend all physical limitations to acheive what is called the "diamond body." In spiritual alchemy, the goal is sort of the same (although physical gynmastics are not part of the path of alchemy per se). The person who achieves enlightenment through the path of alchemy is said to have manufactured the "philosopher's stone."

Check out the work of Dennis William Hauck if you are interested in reading about spiritual alchemy. Also, the work of Mark Stavish will provide insight into inner alchemy and modern laboratory alchemy. Very scholarly and probably most authentic commentary about alchemy can be found in the writing of Adam McLean. His Web site, which is full of historical alchemical texts, most of which will make no sense to you although McLean does offer a course in how to understand alchemical texts, is www.alchemywebsite.com.

Answer 8

Alchemy is a pseudo-science that was discredited long ago. We now have chemistry that is much more real. The ultima thule of alchemy is the philosopher's stone. Surely you do not believe such a fantastic thing exists.

Answer 9

not really..alchemy before, chemistry now.