Science and Alchemy
Etymology
• Al – khemet (command)
• From Egypt, Arab world, Greece
• A medieval chemical philosophy having as its asserted aims
the transmutation of base metals into gold, the discovery of
the panacea, and the preparation of the elixir of longevity.
• 2. A seemingly magical power or process of
transmuting: "He wondered by what alchemy it was
changed, so that what sickened him one hour, maddened
him with hunger the next" (Marjorie K. Rawlings).
• The sacred text: The Emerald Tablet
Alchemy
• Understanding the nature, its elements and
making a scientific enquiry into the nature’s
properties
Sir Isaac Newton and Alchemy
• http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/newtondark-secrets.html
• 22.18 minutes
• Where was Newton born?
• What influenced him the most in his early
childhood?
• Who were the known scientists around his time
and what were their contributions?
Newton
• What were the major contributions of
Newton?
• What was the difference between Newton
and Rene’ Descartes’s theories of Nature?
• Why was Newton’s understanding of alchemy?
• Why was he drawn to Alchemy?
• The relationship of science and religion?