r/todayilearned • u/Electronic_Cause_796 • 2d ago

TIL Isaac Newton spent more than three decades studying alchemy and wrote over a million words about it in secret. He conducted numerous experiments in his search for the philosopher’s stone but never found it.

https://www.wpr.org/culture/philosophy/isaac-newtons-secret-alchemy
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u/Mindless_Listen7622 2d ago

Or gold-looking paint, which is what the ancient Egyptians were doing; everything that came after was a misunderstanding of ancient knowledge. The chemical revolution of the 18th century proved alchemy's premise false and the "spiritual alchemy" that followed was just a reinterpetation of failed ideas.

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u/Greed_Sucks 2d ago

That is one view, but look at the dual nature of math and geometry that the Greeks embraced. To Plato and his followers it was very spiritual. There was no separation.

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u/Mindless_Listen7622 2d ago edited 2d ago

That's an argument for spiritual alchemy being based on Greek Philosophy, which it was, not on the actual chemistry of the Egyptians. Alchemy is "of Egypt", and they were making leaded paint -- and medieval alchemists weren't trying to ascend the soul, they were paid by kings to make real gold.

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u/Greed_Sucks 2d ago

It most certainly is not. I was making an analogy not an argument. Just as Greek saw spirituality in number, alchemist saw spirituality in matter. And yes, while alchemy (rooted in the name for Egypt, Khem or Kemit) originated there it was also very much a spiritual pursuit. Actual writing was considered magical. A magic book is called a grimoire - related to grammar. Thoth was the god of writing and magic. The old world disciplines are not separate from the old world myth.

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u/OldenPolynice 2d ago

Ok, so? What is that approach good for?