The Alchymists from Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay
The Alchymists from Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay
I will be reading the chapter The Alchymists from the book Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay every weekday at 7:45am HST / 1:45pm EST.
pp. 93 – 96 Introduction to the many people who wish to control the uncontrollable which are: death, toil (work) and ignorance of the future. He talks about the belief in water that will extend your life, and a philosopher’s stone, omens and so on. Alchymists believe that all metals are gold, and that by removing impurities you will get gold. We are going to learn about Geber, the most famous alchymist.
pp. 97- 102 We discussed the lives of various alchymists throughout history and their search for the philosopher’s stone: Geber, Alfarabi, Avicenna, Albertus Magnus and Thomas Aquinas, Artephius
pp. 103 – 110 We discussed the lives of alchemists Alain De Lisle (lived to 110), Arnold De Villeneuve (doctor from France), Pietro D’Apone (wealthy physician in France, was killed for being a magician in his home country Italy), Raymond Lulli (Rich and chasing love at youth, at 30 gave up wealth for religion and later alchemy)
pp. 111-117 Went read about the lives of alchymists Roger Bacon, Pope John XXII, Jean De Meung, Nicholas Flamel. Roger Bacon was famous for convex and concave lenses, gun powder, telescope and the author apologizes on his behalf that he also studied and wrote books alchymy. Then the Pope had a famous laboratory and died with 18 million florins. Jean hated religion and women, but loved poetry and alchemy. Flamel was born from a poor family but studied a booklet he bought on alchemy and ended up donating the fortune he made to many churches and hospitals before he died at the age 116.
pp. 118 – 123 Read about German Alchymists of the fifteenth century: Basil Valentine and Bernard of Treves. Basil Valentine wrote 21 works found after his death. Bernard of Treves was born rich, and spend it all in alchymy experiments and advisors, and died at 85 years old and poor. He learned at 82 the great secret of philosophy is contentment with our lot.
pp. 124 – 131 Trithemius was a poor young man who became a successful Abbot, who made the Abby he was leading prosperous and full of books, some which were on alchymy. The Marechal De Rays was rich from birth and after spending most of his wealth, looked towards alchymy and then the devil to bring him money. He was sentenced to death for murdering children, sorcery…
pp. 133 – 135 Jacques Coeur was a poor son of a metal worker who rose in rank in the government mint. He became very rich stealing money from the country and was later jailed then exiled. He claimed he didn’t steal the money, but instead got his wealth through alchymy.
pp. 136 – 138 The 14th and 15th centuries believed in alchymy and would often imprison alchymists in a dungeon until they produced gold from other metals. The author listed some more alchymists from the period, and then moved on to the 16th and 17th centuries. We read John Augurello’s history, who died poor at 83 years old.
pp. 139 – 142 Cornelius Agrippa, a respected scholar of chemistry and philosophy, who became a statesman and a Professor for a time. He was reported to practice magic, wrote books on it. He had a good public reputation and many defended that he did not practice magic.
p. 143 – 146 Paracelcus a great physician and alchymist once love by many, then became an alcoholic and died in poverty. He became famous among alchymists after his death, and his doctrine stated you could cure all disease if you blindly obeyed the will of God. We then read about George Agricola, who started out as an alchymist and later gave it up when he worked in the mines and acquired a great knowledge of metals.
