{"product_id":"alchemy-tried-in-the-fire-starkey-boyle-and-the-fate-of-helmontian-chymistry-paperback","title":"Alchemy Tried in the Fire: Starkey, Boyle, and the Fate of Helmontian Chymistry - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eWilliam R. Newman\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWinner of the 2005 Pfizer Prize from the History of Science Society. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e What actually took place in the private laboratory of a mid-seventeenth century alchemist? How did he direct his quest after the secrets of Nature? What instruments and theoretical principles did he employ? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Using, as their guide, the previously misunderstood interactions between Robert Boyle, widely known as \"the father of chemistry,\" and George Starkey, an alchemist and the most prominent American scientific writer before Benjamin Franklin as their guide, Newman and Principe reveal the hitherto hidden laboratory operations of a famous alchemist and argue that many of the principles and practices characteristic of modern chemistry derive from alchemy. By analyzing Starkey's extraordinary laboratory notebooks, the authors show how this American \"chymist\" translated the wildly figurative writings of traditional alchemy into quantitative, carefully reasoned laboratory practice-and then encoded his own work in allegorical, secretive treatises under the name of Eirenaeus Philalethes. The intriguing \"mystic\" Joan Baptista Van Helmont-a favorite of Starkey, Boyle, and even of Lavoisier-emerges from this study as a surprisingly central figure in seventeenth-century \"chymistry.\" A common emphasis on quantification, material production, and analysis\/synthesis, the authors argue, illustrates a continuity of goals and practices from late medieval alchemy down to and beyond the Chemical Revolution. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e For anyone who wants to understand how alchemy was actually practiced during the Scientific Revolution and what it contributed to the development of modern chemistry, \u003ci\u003eAlchemy Tried in the Fire\u003c\/i\u003e will be a veritable philosopher's stone.\u003ch3\u003eFront Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat actually took place in the private laboratory of a mid-seventeenth century alchemist? How did he direct his quest after the secrets of Nature? What instruments and theoretical principles did he employ? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eUsing, as their guide, the previously misunderstood interactions between Robert Boyle, widely known as the father of chemistry, and George Starkey, an alchemist and the most prominent American scientific writer before Benjamin Franklin as their guide, Newman and Principe reveal the hitherto hidden laboratory operations of a famous alchemist and argue that many of the principles and practices characteristic of modern chemistry derive from alchemy. By analyzing Starkey's extraordinary laboratory notebooks, the authors show how this American chymist translated the wildly figurative writings of traditional alchemy into quantitative, carefully reasoned laboratory practice--and then encoded his own work in allegorical, secretive treatises under the name of Eirenaeus Philalethes. The intriguing mystic Joan Baptista Van Helmont--a favorite of Starkey, Boyle, and even of Lavoisier--emerges from this study as a surprisingly central figure in seventeenth-century chymistry. A common emphasis on quantification, material production, and analysis\/synthesis, the authors argue, illustrates a continuity of goals and practices from late medieval alchemy down to and beyond the Chemical Revolution. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFor anyone who wants to understand how alchemy was actually practiced during the Scientific Revolution and what it contributed to the development of modern chemistry, \u003ci\u003eAlchemy Tried in the Fire\u003c\/i\u003e will be a veritable philosopher's stone.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWilliam R. Newman \u003c\/b\u003eis professor of history and philosophy of science at Indiana University. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Summa Perfectionis of Pseudo-Geber: A Critical Edition, Translation, and Study\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eGehennical Fire: The Lives of George Starkey, An American Alchemist in the Scientific Revolution\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eLawrence M. Principe\u003c\/b\u003e is professor of the history of science and technology and of chemistry at The Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of T\u003ci\u003ehe Aspiring Adept: Robert Boyle and His Alchemical Quest\u003c\/i\u003e and coeditor of \u003ci\u003eThe Correspondence of Robert Boyle.\u003c\/i\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 359\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.77 x 8.94 x 6.54 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e June 01, 2005\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42039116562512,"sku":"9780226577029","price":79.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0592\/9540\/0016\/files\/RWptS2QrVVVvWHNwYThrOGhkdisrdz09.webp?v=1771841342","url":"https:\/\/palm-malen-gift-shop-pmrc.myshopify.com\/products\/alchemy-tried-in-the-fire-starkey-boyle-and-the-fate-of-helmontian-chymistry-paperback","provider":"Palm Malen Gift Shop -PMRC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}