Review of The Secret of Alchemy

Dear Prof. Dr Principe,
\(\quad\)Honestly I'm unaware, of some concepts from alchemy though I reviewed Perfect Gold several months ago; of history of science though I heard a lecture about Joseph Needham during my university time; of the romance that the research on alchemy is an indispensible part of history of science now...
\(\quad\)But I came to realize it at the very beginning of my reading that alchemy deeply roots in the soil of western culture and that alchemy was delibrately "kicked out" by so-called modern chemistry.
\(\quad\)Six years ago, I was a following of Jaina of Theramore, who wielded magic for a hope of peace and then a wrath of revenge. Nowadays, I still attributed my passion for chemistry to the influence from the daughter of the sea, holding somewhat a childish fantasy that chemists are people who harness elements to do modern "magic". To such an extent, it was smooth for me to accept the definition extension of chemistry to element manipulation containing both theory and experiment. However, it would still be difficult without your narrative that animates such a forgotten history from a scientific point of view.
\(\quad\)Though being consanguineous, alchemy still distinguishs itself from coined "modern chemistry" with its characteristically mysteric veil, especially with those metaphors and stories related with religion and ancient history. Also, different civilization relayed the development of alchemy from chemeia, al-kīmiyā' to alchemia and chymistry, which adds a multi-/inter-culture context for all the "science" here.
\(\quad\)Above all, the real quinta essentia in the tale of chymistry is exactly the quintessence of modern science, i.e., what is the science? We kicked it away, racketing that it worth nothing; we are welcoming it back, saying that it is always something. Everything behind these, the question of essence, is the essential question. From my point of view, as long as we are guiding our production and life through comprehending the laws of nature, we are definitely doing science.
\(\quad\)Saying like this, once again I open the Edit Trace of my academic debut at the coming of the concluding remark of yours.

Ars longa, vita brevis. There is no danger that all the secrets of alchemy have been revealed here, or in any other book. We still have much to learn, and the Noble Art still has much to teach.

\(\quad\)

by Syl & Sylvia @ 2022-10-24 22:19:42 @ Changsha, Yuelu District
originally posted @ https://www.cnblogs.com @ 2022-10-24

Pic created by VIKPIE @ https://www.pixiv.net/