Technikatörténeti szemle 22. (1996)

Papers from the Second International Conference on the History of Chemistry and Chemical Industry (Eger, Hungary, 16–19 August, 1995) - Pérez-Bustamente, A. Juan: The Holistic Concept of Alchemy

anecdotical nonsense of past scientific obscurity. Such an erroneous disqualificatory attitude derives simply from sheer ignorance, misunderstanding, simplicity and "scientific arrogance". Alchemy has enjoyed along its long way alternative praising or disqualification, protection or prosecution. Nonetheless Alchemy has lasted over mlllenia as derived from a reduced number of important factors: -the failure of greek science to establish a new science

4

, such as chemistry, lacking a minimal traditional support, being more motivated by thinking than by positive experimentation -the rational congruence fo alchemy with its historical tradition based on a qualitative metaphysical paradigm of matter

5 -the overwhelming weight of historically consolidated "authorities" like Aristotle, the scholastic "doctors", etc. which imposed scientifical stagnation as derived from authority, dogmatism and metaphysics - in spite of abundant prohibitions and prosecutions in all ages, alchemy survived as derived directly from human beliefs on marvels, human greediness and human need, weakness and hope Alchemy disappeared at last when the qualitative paradigm of matter gave way to a quantitative paradigm in connection with a positivistic pragmatic approach to the behaviour of matter leading to the Chemical Revolution which established itself at the boundary of the XVIII-th and XIX-th centuries directly related to the names of Lavoisier and Dalton. The progressive transformation of experimental chemistry (directly related to exoteric alchemy) into scientific chemistry can be placed on essentially three cornerstones associated with the names of Paracelsus

6 (XVI-th c, "latcochemical Revolution"), Boyle (XVIIth c, initial physicallsation

7 of chemistry in mechanical terms) and Lavoisier (XVIII-th o, "chemical revolution")

8 Throughout this period the progressive enlightment of mankind was able to bring about a number of transcendental changes departing from tradition, darkness, dogma and repression to arrive to scientific paradigms based on rationalism, liberalism, positivism and liberty. Concept and Aims of Alchemy The main problem to understand the significance of Alchemy is of conceptual nature as related to its great complexity (syncretism of many doctrines and philosophies, variety of objectives, expressive opacity, etc.) which make a very difficult task to arrive at a satisfactory comprehensive definition of the subject. Alchemy is essentially a human attempt to imitate Nature expressed in a language of symbolisms whereby emphasis is placed on material and spir-