Description
Book SynopsisPresents a provocative view of Robert Boyle (1627-1691), one of the leading figures of the Scientific Revolution, by revealing his avid and lifelong pursuit of alchemy. This title shows that his alchemical quest positions him more accurately in the intellectual and cultural crossroads of the seventeenth century.
Trade Review"Principe is to be congratulated on bringing [Boyle] into a new focus."--D. M. Knight, Nature "The Aspiring Adept is an audacious, enchanting, and deeply rewarding book, one that will be of equal interest to historians, chemists, and interested laypersons. It is a real treat."--A. J. Rocke, Chemistry in Britain "Lawrence Principe's book goes a long way toward recovering the complexity of Boyle's mind and work... [His] ability to reconstruct Boyle's laboratory practices, ascertain the relations between Boyle and a large community of like-minded practitioners, and retrieve, fully or partially, some of Boyle's alchemical writings is ... remarkable."--Mordechai Feingold, American Scientist "Principe has performed a great service by printing some of the choicer parts [of Boyle's unpublished works]... [He] avoids the easy temptation to interpret Boyle's alchemical operations in terms of modern chemistry."--Peter Dear, Physics World
Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsNote on Primary SourcesAbbreviationsIntroductionAlchemy and Chemistry: A Crucial Note on Terminology and CategoriesCh. IBoyle SpagyricizedCh. IISkeptical of the Sceptical ChymistCh. IIIThe Dialogue on Transmutation, Kinds of Transmutations, and Boyle's BeliefsCh. IVAdepti, Aspirants, and CheatsCh. VBoyle and Alchemical PracticeCh. VIMotivations: Truth, Medicine, and ReligionEpilogue: A New Boyle and a New AlchemyApp. 1Robert Boyle's Dialogue on the Transmutation and Melioration of MetalsApp. 2Interview Accounts of Transmutation and Prefaces to Boyle's Other Chrysopoetic WritingsApp. 3Dialogue on the Converse with Angels Aided by the Philosophers' StoneWorks CitedIndex
