Jan Baptist van Helmont (1580–1644), although he together with his esoteric
statements belonged to the Paracelsian circle, has revolutionized his operative
approach by moving from qualitative to the quantitative experiment. By measuring
the mass of tree of willow, which has grown in the known amount of soil, van
Helmont has shown that the mass of tree increases in some correlation with the
amount of water used for sealing, keeping the amount of soil constant. Consequently, Earth cannot be an element. For van Helmont, fire and air are also not
elements. Only water remained! Is it the return to Thales and his “proto-water”, the
return for more than two thousand years? All is known from ever, is not? By
introducing measurement in manipulation with the substance van Helmont became
a member of the intellectual circle of his generation, the Galilean circle, the society
that was an embryo of the scientific community.
4.1 Conclusions
The practical, experimental approach to philosophy developed during the Hellenistic period in Alexandria has been transferred to Middle East where the new
ideas were incorporated. To the Empedocles’ four elements, earth, water, air, and
fire, the three new principles (salt, mercury, and sulfur) were added. The practice of
proto-chemistry was renamed to “alchemy”, and its original philosophical intentions were extended with the new scope: its use in medicine. Alchemists hoped to
prepare the substances which can provide us the eternal life. Experiments of
alchemists were also combined with the personal mystical experiences of the
alchemist. In such form alchemy moved to Europe where, in the time of scientific
revolution, it has been transformed to chemistry.
References
1. Grdenić D (2001) Povijest kemije, Liber, Zagreb (History of Chemistry, original in Croatian)
2. Brock W (1992) The fontana history of chemistry. Fontana Press, London, p 1992
3. Eco U (2016) I limiti dell’interpretazione. La nave di Teseo, Milano
4. Ficino M (1999) Scritti sull’astrologia. RCS Libri, S.p.A, Milano
5. Rabinovič VL (1979) Alhimija kak fenomen srednjvekovoj kulturi. Nauka, Moskva
4 Alchemy
45
statements belonged to the Paracelsian circle, has revolutionized his operative
approach by moving from qualitative to the quantitative experiment. By measuring
the mass of tree of willow, which has grown in the known amount of soil, van
Helmont has shown that the mass of tree increases in some correlation with the
amount of water used for sealing, keeping the amount of soil constant. Consequently, Earth cannot be an element. For van Helmont, fire and air are also not
elements. Only water remained! Is it the return to Thales and his “proto-water”, the
return for more than two thousand years? All is known from ever, is not? By
introducing measurement in manipulation with the substance van Helmont became
a member of the intellectual circle of his generation, the Galilean circle, the society
that was an embryo of the scientific community.
4.1 Conclusions
The practical, experimental approach to philosophy developed during the Hellenistic period in Alexandria has been transferred to Middle East where the new
ideas were incorporated. To the Empedocles’ four elements, earth, water, air, and
fire, the three new principles (salt, mercury, and sulfur) were added. The practice of
proto-chemistry was renamed to “alchemy”, and its original philosophical intentions were extended with the new scope: its use in medicine. Alchemists hoped to
prepare the substances which can provide us the eternal life. Experiments of
alchemists were also combined with the personal mystical experiences of the
alchemist. In such form alchemy moved to Europe where, in the time of scientific
revolution, it has been transformed to chemistry.
References
1. Grdenić D (2001) Povijest kemije, Liber, Zagreb (History of Chemistry, original in Croatian)
2. Brock W (1992) The fontana history of chemistry. Fontana Press, London, p 1992
3. Eco U (2016) I limiti dell’interpretazione. La nave di Teseo, Milano
4. Ficino M (1999) Scritti sull’astrologia. RCS Libri, S.p.A, Milano
5. Rabinovič VL (1979) Alhimija kak fenomen srednjvekovoj kulturi. Nauka, Moskva
4 Alchemy
45