Newton was an Alchemist | Jed Buchwald and Lex Fridman

TL;DR

Alchemy was a scientific practice in the Islamic era and later in the 15th-16th centuries, focused on transforming valuable materials, creating complex amalgams, and exploring chemical processes. Isaac Newton extensively engaged in alchemical manipulations alongside his optical investigations.

Transcript

can you say something to the history of alchemy a little bit sure um it used to be thought two things one that alchemy which dates certainly back to the islamic period in islam you're talking you know 11th 12th 13th centuries among islamic natural philosophers and experimenters but it used to be thought that um alchemy which picked up strikingly in... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Alchemy dates back to the Islamic period and became significantly popular in the 15th-16th centuries.
• 🤑 Alchemists aimed to transform invaluable materials into valuable ones through chrysopoeia.
• 💍 Alchemical formulas are instructions for creating complex amalgams and engaging in chemical processes.
• 💿 Isaac Newton was heavily involved in alchemical manipulations and optical investigations.
• 🦾 Chrysopoeia evolved into the mechanical philosophy, exploring particle arrangements and chemical processes.
• 🖐️ Alchemy should not be dismissed as pure mysticism, as it laid the foundation for modern chemistry.
• 💦 Newton's alchemical pursuits were almost as significant as his work in optics and mechanics.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is alchemy and when did it gain popularity?

Alchemy was a scientific practice that originated in the Islamic period and became popular in the 15th-16th centuries, involving the transformation of materials.

Q: Did alchemy involve mystical procedures?

While it was once believed that alchemy had mystical elements, it is now understood that alchemists were mainly focused on chrysopoeia, the transformation of materials, and the creation of complex amalgams using elaborate apparatus.

Q: How did alchemists document their findings?

Alchemists would write down and observe their chemical compositions, often using strange-looking formulas to describe the process. These formulas, though seemingly mystical, were actually instructions for creating complex amalgams.

Q: How did Isaac Newton contribute to alchemy?

Isaac Newton extensively engaged in alchemical manipulations alongside his optical investigations. In the latter part of the 1670s, he focused more on alchemy and optics, experimenting with chemical processes and rearranging particles.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Alchemy originated in the Islamic period and gained traction in the 15th-16th centuries.

• Alchemists aimed to transform invaluable materials into valuable ones through chrysopoeia.

• Alchemical formulas were used to create complex amalgams and understand chemical decompositions.