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The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry

M. M. Pattison Muir

Book Overview: 

A light journey through the history of chemistry, from its start in the obscure mysteries of alchemy to what was, for the author, the cutting edge of the development of modern atomic theory … and whose developing blind ends we can now see with the advantage of hind sight.

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Book Excerpt: 
. . .persuaded that they knew the plan whereon the world was framed, that it was possible for them to follow exactly "the road which was followed by the Great Architect of the Universe in the creation of the world," a real knowledge of natural events was impossible; for every attempt to penetrate nature's secrets presupposed a knowledge of the essential characteristics of that which was to be investigated. But genuine knowledge begins when the investigator admits that he must learn of nature, not nature of him. It might be truly said of one who held the alchemical conception of nature that "his foible was omniscience"; and omniscience negatives the attainment of knowledge.

The alchemical notion of a natural state as proper to each substance was vigorously combated by the Honourable Robert Boyle (born 1626, died 1691), a man of singularly clear and penetrative intellect. In A Paradox of the Natural and Supernatural States of Bodies, Especiall. . . Read More

Community Reviews

A concise history of Alchemy and its transition to chemistry written from the point of view of a scientist at the turn of the 20th century. It gets a bit condescending, but at the time the book was written chemists and physicists had a lot going for them, so its somewhat understandable. The original

I asked AI to write me a review for this book, and i actually approved it. However, do pay attention to the 2nd question made to AI related to the key and core element of Alchemy: transmutation

question 1:
"The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry" by Matthew Moncrieff Pattison Muir is a

Hilarious and humbling. Each era’s attempt to make sense of the world falls laughably short of what we “know” today which obviously makes you wonder what we currently have laughably wrong. It was very fun to see the progression of atomic theory originating with ancient philosophers, blossoming into

It is a pregnant example of the contrast between the scientific and the emotional methods of regarding nature; and it admirably illustrates suggestive, hypotheses, and baseless speculations.

It started off as one of the best non-fiction books I had ever read... and then it started going round and round on one fixated point. It kind of got boring and eventually made me realize that I was not enjoying this book anymore. Back in the days I would have just read through this just so that I h

a good book to learn the basics about alchemy and the beginnings of chemistry. I read it in preparation for my History of Chemistry course.

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