In this view of alchemy a wide arc of the stone age, chemistry and metallurgy of the Bronze Age to the still existing schools Spagyrik tense. Many of the ideas and practices that are in connection with alchemy, reported it and so a compact overall picture in which some aspects something be short.
As a biologist and lecturer at the University of Stuttgart, namely, the author of the topic primarily from the perspective of a contemporary scientist. This type of approach takes naturally to the omissions, so the Alchemist, the mystics, philosophers and early scientists unite, if you will, ultimately stands honored especially for his benefit in the latter area highly. Thus, the work of Suhr Dierk reads in many places as an apology of alchemy, trying to highlight the chemically-relevant research. And as it so give some, like the discovery of oxygen, the alcohol or the of porcelain and gunpowder in Europe.
It leads the way to the earliest ideas about the nature of the world and its people, such as the ancient world in the developed four-element theory or the Hippocratic humoral pathology. The subsequent works in which the medicine has combined with alchemical experimentation, is one of the main routes, the clock worked out. The formulation and later the search for a bottom line, a fifth element, is also one of the central motifs alchemical quest as the book. Other important thoughts as they are on the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus written, kabbalistic influences the doctrine of signatures or the theory of Suphur, Mercury and Sal are shown classified knowledgeable and historically.
More attention is paid to alchemy as the art of making gold and on the desire of many alchemists, the philosopher's stone, respectively. produce the elixir of life. These efforts are more than quackery in the artificial reading room and quickly, the author goes in medical interpretation dimensions, as the search for a cure ( Panacea ) of Paracelsus.
The mystical study of alchemical symbolism and procedures, an inner alchemy (like the Chinese Neidan ) is called in Suhr's consideration, but was barely running. It remains So in much of the impression of a knowledgeable description of alchemy as embryonic chemistry, although with the leadership of some philosophical and mystical writings also a completely different story would have been possible.
the main square of this document takes a central part in which many known and lesser-known alchemists to Alexander von Bernus with their CVs and work data are outlined. Additionally the book from the fact that the author repeatedly takes to explain specifically alchemical ideas and practices so that the reader without prior knowledge, a slight initial succeed in the matter.
wrote First and foremost, the author thus knowledgeable and also picked illustrated history of alchemy, aiming at the still chemically relevant findings of former researchers. The fact that some of the exciting "aberrations" are dealt with very briefly, is outweighed by the advantages mentioned above.
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