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Salvatore Califano Storia dell’alchimia Misticismo ed esoterismo all’origine della chimica moderna II edizione rivista e ampliata FIRENZE PRESUNIVERSITYS Libere carte – 4 – Libere carte – 4 – Storia dell’alchimia : misticismo ed esoterismo all’origine della chimica moderna : II edizione rivista e ampliata / Salvatore Califano. – Firenze : Firenze University Press, 2016. (Libere carte ; 4) http://digital.casalini.it/9788866559993 ISBN 978-88-6655-998-6 (print) Salvatore Califano ISBN 978-88-6655-999-3 (online) Progetto grafico di Alberto Pizarro Fernández, Pagina Maestra snc Storia dell’alchimia Misticismo ed esoterismo all’origine della chimica moderna ii edizione rivista e ampliata Certificazione scientifica delle Opere Tutti i volumi pubblicati sono soggetti ad un processo di referaggio esterno di cui sono responsabili il Consiglio editoriale della FUP e i Consigli scientifici delle singole collane. Le opere pubblicate nel catalogo della FUP sono valutate e approvate dal Consiglio editoriale della casa editrice. Per una descrizione più analitica del processo di referaggio si rimanda ai documenti ufficiali pubblicati sul catalogo on-line della casa editrice (www.fupress.com). Consiglio editoriale Firenze University Press G. Nigro (Coordinatore), M.T. Bartoli, M. Boddi, R. Casalbuoni, C. Ciappei, R. Del Punta, A. Dolfi, V. Fargion, S. Ferrone, M. Garzaniti, P. Guarnieri, A. Mariani, M. Marini, A. Novelli, M.C. Torricelli, M. Verga, A. Zorzi. © 2016 Firenze University Press Università degli Studi di Firenze FIRENZE UNIVERSITY PRESS Firenze University Press via Cittadella, 7, 50144 Firenze, Italy 2016 www.fupress.com Printed in Italy Storia dell’alchimia : misticismo ed esoterismo all’origine della chimica moderna : II edizione rivista e ampliata / Salvatore Califano. – Firenze : Firenze University Press, 2016. (Libere carte ; 4) http://digital.casalini.it/9788866559993 ISBN 978-88-6655-998-6 (print) Salvatore Califano ISBN 978-88-6655-999-3 (online) Progetto grafico di Alberto Pizarro Fernández, Pagina Maestra snc Storia dell’alchimia Misticismo ed esoterismo all’origine della chimica moderna ii edizione rivista e ampliata Certificazione scientifica delle Opere Tutti i volumi pubblicati sono soggetti ad un processo di referaggio esterno di cui sono responsabili il Consiglio editoriale della FUP e i Consigli scientifici delle singole collane. Le opere pubblicate nel catalogo della FUP sono valutate e approvate dal Consiglio editoriale della casa editrice. Per una descrizione più analitica del processo di referaggio si rimanda ai documenti ufficiali pubblicati sul catalogo on-line della casa editrice (www.fupress.com). Consiglio editoriale Firenze University Press G. Nigro (Coordinatore), M.T. Bartoli, M. Boddi, R. Casalbuoni, C. Ciappei, R. Del Punta, A. Dolfi, V. Fargion, S. Ferrone, M. Garzaniti, P. Guarnieri, A. Mariani, M. Marini, A. Novelli, M.C. Torricelli, M. Verga, A. Zorzi. © 2016 Firenze University Press Università degli Studi di Firenze FIRENZE UNIVERSITY PRESS Firenze University Press via Cittadella, 7, 50144 Firenze, Italy 2016 www.fupress.com Printed in Italy Dedico questo libro ai miei due figli, Andrea, professore alla Columbia University di New York, e Francesco, professore di struttura della materia all’Università di Pisa Dedico questo libro ai miei due figli, Andrea, professore alla Columbia University di New York, e Francesco, professore di struttura della materia all’Università di Pisa VIII STORIA DELLA CHIMICA CAPITOLO 12 SOMMARIO PARACELSO E LA IATROCHIMICA 95 CAPITOLO 13 DA VAN HELMONT A BOYLE 103 CAPITOLO 14 ISAAC NEWTON ALCHIMISTA E DIRETTORE DELLA ZECCA 123 CAPITOLO 15 DA GASSENDI A CARTESIO 131 INTRODUZIONE IX CAPITOLO 16 CAPITOLO I ESOTERISMO E STREGONERIA NEL SEICENTO 137 L’ALCHIMIA EGIZIANA 1 CAPITOLO 17 CAPITOLO 2 L’ALCHIMIA ALLA CORTE DI ELISABETTA I TUDOR 145 L’ALCHIMIA ALESSANDRINA E PALEOCRISTIANA 3 CAPITOLO 18 CAPITOLO 3 L’ALCHIMIA IN EUROPA CENTRALE 153 L’ALCHIMIA CINESE 7 CAPITOLO 19 CAPITOLO 4 L’ALCHIMIA IN AMERICA 157 LO STUDIO DELLA NATURA NEL MONDO GRECO 13 BIBLIOGRAFIA 167 CAPITOLO 5 L’ALCHIMIA NEL MONDO ISLAMICO 25 CAPITOLO 6 LA TRADUZIONE DELL’ALCHIMIA CLASSICA 33 CAPITOLO 7 I PRIMI VERI LABORATORI DI ALCHIMIA 39 CAPITOLO 8 UMANISTI ED ENCICLOPEDISTI 49 CAPITOLO 9 I PRIMI LIBRI EUROPEI DI TECNICA 67 CAPITOLO 10 L’ALCHIMIA NELL’ALTO MEDIOEVO 71 CAPITOLO 11 L’ALCHIMIA NEL RINASCIMENTO ITALIANO 85 VIII STORIA DELLA CHIMICA CAPITOLO 12 SOMMARIO PARACELSO E LA IATROCHIMICA 95 CAPITOLO 13 DA VAN HELMONT A BOYLE 103 CAPITOLO 14 ISAAC NEWTON ALCHIMISTA E DIRETTORE DELLA ZECCA 123 CAPITOLO 15 DA GASSENDI A CARTESIO 131 INTRODUZIONE IX CAPITOLO 16 CAPITOLO I ESOTERISMO E STREGONERIA NEL SEICENTO 137 L’ALCHIMIA EGIZIANA 1 CAPITOLO 17 CAPITOLO 2 L’ALCHIMIA ALLA CORTE DI ELISABETTA I TUDOR 145 L’ALCHIMIA ALESSANDRINA E PALEOCRISTIANA 3 CAPITOLO 18 CAPITOLO 3 L’ALCHIMIA IN EUROPA CENTRALE 153 L’ALCHIMIA CINESE 7 CAPITOLO 19 CAPITOLO 4 L’ALCHIMIA IN AMERICA 157 LO STUDIO DELLA NATURA NEL MONDO GRECO 13 BIBLIOGRAFIA 167 CAPITOLO 5 L’ALCHIMIA NEL MONDO ISLAMICO 25 CAPITOLO 6 LA TRADUZIONE DELL’ALCHIMIA CLASSICA 33 CAPITOLO 7 I PRIMI VERI LABORATORI DI ALCHIMIA 39 CAPITOLO 8 UMANISTI ED ENCICLOPEDISTI 49 CAPITOLO 9 I PRIMI LIBRI EUROPEI DI TECNICA 67 CAPITOLO 10 L’ALCHIMIA NELL’ALTO MEDIOEVO 71 CAPITOLO 11 L’ALCHIMIA NEL RINASCIMENTO ITALIANO 85 X STORIA DELLA CHIMICA sformazione ha permesso però di sviluppare raccolte di conoscenze em- INTRODUZIONE piriche sia di chimica sia di medicina e farmacia (alchimia sperimentale) che hanno aperto la strada alla scienza moderna (Thorndyke 1923-1958). L’alchimia, antica progenitrice della chimica, è nata prima che il metodo scientifico divenisse parte integrante delle moderne teorie chimiche. Sin dall’inizio della storia dell’umanità i protagonisti del suo sviluppo hanno cercato di scoprire e ricostruire in laboratorio i meccanismi nascosti con cui la natura realizzava lo sviluppo di piante e animali, riproducendosi da millenni sempre eguale a se stessa, secondo regole ben precise e costan- ti che sfuggivano all’umana comprensione. I tentativi d’interpretazione dei processi che accadevano nel mondo fisico erano inevitabilmente me- scolati e confusi con tanti altri aspetti diversi dello scibile umano, dallo studio del comportamento e del movimento degli astri e dei pianeti, al- la cure delle ferite e delle malattie, a concezioni mistiche e religiose che affidavano il futuro a divinità arcane, al trattamento dei metalli, perfino a miti che richiamavano le gesta dei tanti personaggi che popolavano le storie tramandate da generazioni. Le procedure messe a punto da questi primi sperimentatori servivano a interrogare una natura spesso ostile e violenta, agitata da fenomeni incomprensibili come terremoti, alluvioni e tempeste. I nomi fantastici assegnati ai composti utilizzati da questi pro- Figura 1 – Il laboratorio dell’alchimista, illustrazione di Hans Vredeman de Vries, to-chimici, anziché richiamare con termini chiari le proprietà e il com- contenuta nell’Amphitheatrum sapientiae aeternae di Heinrich Khunrath. portamento della materia, si rifacevano in genere a personaggi mitici o a immagini fantasiose, nascondendo le proprietà dei composti dietro termi- Per molti lettori di libri di storia della scienza la parola ‘alchimia’ richia- ni esotici, giunti addirittura fino ai giorni nostri per creare un’atmosfera ma alla mente un oscuro laboratorio medievale, pieno di storte, alambicchi di mistero e d’incantesimo. e crogiuoli in cui un eccentrico personaggio, vestito di una lunga tonaca L’impianto generale dell’alchimia, che prendeva il nome di ‘Gran- nera, qualcosa d’intermedio tra il mago e lo stregone, cerca con ostinazio- de Opera’ o Opus alchemico, richiedeva che tutti gli enti fisici subissero ne di scoprire la Pietra Filosofale per impossessarsi dell’elisir di lunga vita processi di trasformazione dallo stato primitivo a uno stato di perfezio- e per realizzare il sogno della trasmutazione dei metalli in oro (fig. 1). Il ne finale nel quale la materia prima moriva Nigredo( ), poi era ricomposta personaggio tipico dell’alchimista medievale è stato magnificamente trat- (Albedo) e infine ricostruita Rubedo( ). Questi tre stadi delle trasmutazioni teggiato nel famoso libro di Marguerite Yourcenar L’opera al nero (1968), materiali corrispondevano ai tre colori, nero, bianco e rosso, e alle tre divi- le cui vicende ruotano attorno alla figura di Zenone, filosofo, scienziato e sioni dell’essere, corpo, spirito e anima. In stadi successivi dello sviluppo alchimista, che l’autrice immagina essere nato in Belgio nel XVI secolo. dell’alchimia comparve anche la Citrinitas, in greco xanthosis, una specie di Dal libro è stato tratto nel 1988 un film diretto da André Delvaux con lo distillazione purificatrice, corrispondente al colore giallo che nel linguag- stesso titolo, con l’attore Gian Maria Volonté nel ruolo di Zenone. Altret- gio alchemico rappresentava la trasformazione dell’argento in oro puro. tanto orientato a disegnare il personaggio dell’alchimista è il romanzo La L’evoluzione dell’alchimia ha visto quindi sovrapporsi nei secoli un co- Recherche de l’Absolu, terzo volume degli studi di costume della Comédie acervo di concetti e credenze che passavano dal misticismo alla stregoneria humaine di Honoré de Balzac (Balzac 1842), che narra le vicende di Bal- alle pratiche esoteriche (alchimia mistica). Questo lungo processo di tra- thazar Claës, un agiato borghese di Douai, una cittadina nel nord della X STORIA DELLA CHIMICA sformazione ha permesso però di sviluppare
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    UNIVERSIDADE DE SÃO PAULO FACULDADE DE EDUCAÇÃO FERNANDO DE CARVALHO LOPES Pintura e Alquimia: práticas de ateliê e laboratório na Arte- Educação. São Paulo 2015 FERNANDO DE CARVALHO LOPES Pintura e Alquimia: práticas de ateliê e laboratório na Arte-Educação Dissertação apresentada à Faculdade de Educação da Universidade de São Paulo como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do título de Mestre em Educação. Área de concentração: Cultura, Organização e Educação. Orientador: Prof. Dr. Rogério de Almeida. São Paulo 2015 Autorizo a reprodução e divulgação total ou parcial deste trabalho, por qualquer meio convencional ou eletrônico, para fins de estudo e pesquisa, desde que citada a fonte. Catalogação na publicação Serviço de Biblioteca e Documentação Faculdade de Educação da Universidade de São Paulo Lopes, Fernando de Carvalho. Pintura e Alquimia: práticas de ateliê e laboratório na Arte- Educação/Fernando de Carvalho Lopes; Orientador: Rogério de Almeida. São Paulo, 2014. 189 f. Dissertação (Mestrado) – Faculdade de Educação da Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Programa de Pós-graduação em Educação. Área de concentração: Cultura, Organização e Educação. Nome: LOPES, Fernando de Carvalho Título: Pintura e Alquimia: práticas de ateliê e laboratório na Arte-Educação Dissertação apresentada à Faculdade de Educação da Universidade de São Paulo como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do título de Mestre em Educação. Aprovado em: Banca Examinadora Prof. Dr _______________________________Instituição:_________________ Julgamento:____________________________Assinatura:________________ Prof. Dr _______________________________Instituição:_________________ Julgamento:____________________________Assinatura:________________ Prof. Dr _______________________________Instituição:_________________ Julgamento:____________________________Assinatura:________________ AGRADECIMENTOS A todos que, de uma maneira ou de outra, nos corredores, botecos, esquinas, acasos e descaminhos contribuíram com sugestões bibliográficas, provocações, problemáticas e perspectivas.
  • 'That Senescence Itself Is an Illness': a Transitional Medical Concept of Age and Ageing in the Eighteenth Century

    'That Senescence Itself Is an Illness': a Transitional Medical Concept of Age and Ageing in the Eighteenth Century

    Medical History, 2002, 46: 525-548 'That Senescence Itself is an Illness': A Transitional Medical Concept of Age and Ageing in the Eighteenth Century DANIEL SCHAFER* Senectus ipsa morbus est ... : Jacob Hutter (1708-1768) used this provocative hypo- thesis to draw attention to his doctoral thesis of the same title which was published in 1732 at the University of Halle in Central Germany. Hutter was an otherwise practically unknown figure, who later worked in his native Transylvania as a doctor and pharmacist. His dissertation was reprinted that same year with the title also translated into German: 'That senescence itself is an illness' (Dafl das Alter an und vor sich selbst eine Krankheit seye).' How did Hutter arrive at this striking hypothesis? Did he develop it from his own ideas and possibly also from those of his con- temporaries, or was this aphorism based on older bodies of thought within medicine? The following analysis of Hutter's work in its cultural historical context will show that, around his time, as far as the discussion of old age as an illness was concerned, a long and complex tradition was nearing an end. This tradition can be traced back to ancient times. Surprisingly, the radical claim that old age constitutes an illness had first appeared, not in a medical text, but in a literary work. Hutter, along with other authors around 1700,2 quoted a particular passage from the comedy Phormio by Terence, written about 161 BC. The old Chremes, when asked by his brother Demiphon what illness he was suffering from, replied, "Why do you ask? The illness is old age itself'.3 Lucius Aenaeus Seneca lent further weight to this effective quotation by referring to old age as an incurable illness.4 This paper will demonstrate, however, that this topic had already been treated in a controversial way by the medical works * PD Dr.
  • The Indicator-December 2016

    The Indicator-December 2016

    DECEMBER 2016 Vol. 97 • No. 10 ISSN0019-6924 Dr. Brian R. Gibney 2017 New York Section Chair See Chairʼs Message on page 5. PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER www.theindicator.org www.njacs.org www.newyorkacs.org 2 THE INDICATOR-DECEMBER 2016 THIS MONTH IN CHEMICAL HISTORY Harold Goldwhite, California State University, Los Angeles • [email protected] In a recent column I drew to your attention a splendid new coffee table book about the history of chemistry. The book is called “The Chemistry Book” by Derek B. Lowe, pub- lished by Sterling in 2016. The title does not describe the book adequately; it could bet- ter be called “The History of Chemistry Book in 250 one page summaries arranged in chronological order from 500,000 BCE to 2030(!)”. The subtitle is “From gunpowder to graphene; 250 milestones in the history of chemistry”. One of the bookʼs most attrac- tive features is that each one page article is accompanied by a full page illustration, mostly in color, relevant to the milestone described. In that column I covered topics from pre-history to the 7th. century. I will now review a few more entries in chronologi- cal order. I recently co-authored a book on “The Chemistry of Alchemy” and so the entry for ca.800 on the philosopherʼs stone caught my eye. It discusses the work of a celebrat- ed Islamic alchemist, probably working in what is today called Iraq. Abu Musa Jabir ibn Hayyan is usually referred to simply as Jabir, and in earlier times his name was Latinized to Geber.