Alchemy is considered by many a pseudoscience (a science that isn’t really a science), long associated with the transmutation of lead into gold. It has a history shrouded in mysticism and magic, often leading it into the realms of the ridiculous and the unbelievable. However, over the past two and a half thousand years figures from Francis Bacon to Newton have actively worked within it. Why would scientists so ardently invest their time in a pursuit that for centuries has been ridiculed? (For example the writings of Chaucer). It’s a difficult question, as it certainly lacked social benefits (it was considered heresy or blasphemy) and Newton is quoted in letters to Robert Boyle warning him to keep “high silence” about such pursuits. For many the benefits were probably financial (gold was of high value, and so why wouldn’t one pursue it) and there was also certainly a degree of religious fanaticism surrounding the “science”.[i]
The evidence for Newton’s involvement in alchemy is concrete. There remain various notes, scribblings and alchemical reports from Newton, such as “Index Chymicus” and “Of Ye first Gate”, describing his experiments and their outcomes. He also rewrote and translated the writings of Basil Valentine, a monk who dabbled in alchemy and wrote poems on the subject. It would appear that, on paper, Newton’s experiments were without fruit. He seemed to be as unsuccessful in alchemy as he was in physics.[ii]
Some argue that Newton was successful in transmuting lead into gold. At the peak of his scientific career he turned down a Professorship at Oxford University in order to take the job as the Director of the Mint, a role in which he was responsible for maintaining Britain’s gold reserves at the Mint. Because of this, some speculate that Newton (who if anyone could, he could) did achieve his goal. This is also attributed to his friendship with Robert Boyle, a fellow alchemist, who wrote in a letter that he had discovered a “special mercury” with which he could transmute lesser metals. This, to some, is reminiscent of cold fusion, an idea that is the closest modern equivalent to a believable method of transmutation.
Other alchemical pursuits of Newton were that of the Philosopher’s Stone which alchemists believe produces the elixir of life. The extent of his exploration into this area is rather limited, as he:
“kept his studies secret because ‘vulgar eyes’ were not yet worthy to view the noble truths he was attempting to uncover” [iii]
The great works of Newton were not always necessarily associated with alchemy. However, it would probably be fair to say that it brought upon him a fanaticism with which he viewed all his work. His desperation to achieve success in alchemy brought upon him a discipline that he later used when it came to his other scientific pursuits. For example, he used to study the sun for hours through a telescope he built himself, then spend days in a dark room waiting for his sight to return.[iv] One could argue that if he had spent more time worrying about what might be considered “proper” science, he may have discovered much more. But it was also said that his passion for science would often burn out and it would be rekindled only when he spent time on his alchemy.
Insofar as the scientist in him should have conflicted with the alchemist, one has to remember that Newton lived in a time different to ours. Science and religion weren’t viewed with the same exclusivity that they often are now and so he probably had less qualms about the two than some modern scientists may. Newton believed not only that he was a modern prophet of God’s works, he believed that supernatural agents had passed the knowledge of alchemy down to our forefathers. As a result, he probably interpreted these agents as angelic in nature and so saw it as no more strange than the rest of his faith.
It is estimated that Newton wrote at least one million words on the subject of alchemy and had he been one of our contemporaries there would have been no harm in publishing them. But under the Blasphemy Act he was unable to do so in his own time. This appears to be the only constraint on the publishing of his works, other than his own desire to hide his work away from “vulgar eyes”.
Newton was almost certainly as active an alchemist as he was a scientist. He spent hours of his life struggling away with both, sometimes to the point of physically harming himself. Irrespective of modern views on alchemy, at the time he thought he was pursuing just another branch of science albeit one that was heretical. It us up to the reader whether or not they see that as a waste of time, but as the writer’s of this essay we suggest that all avenues of science should be explored, if only to demonstrate them as pointless or inexplorable.
No comments:
Post a Comment