Modern Alchemy: Occultism and the Emergence of Atomic TheoryAlchemists are generally held to be the quirky forefathers of science, blending occultism with metaphysical pursuits. Although many were intelligent and well-intentioned thinkers, the oft-cited goals of alchemy paint these antiquated experiments as wizardry, not scientific investigation. Whether seeking to produce a miraculous panacea or struggling to transmute lead into gold, the alchemists radical goals held little relevance to consequent scientific pursuits. Thus, the temptation is to view the transition from alchemy to modern science as one that discarded fantastic ideas about philosophers stones and magic potions in exchange for modest yet steady results. It has been less noted, however, that the birth of atomic science actually coincided with an efflorescence of occultism and esoteric religion that attached deep significance to questions about the nature of matter and energy. Mark Morrisson challenges the widespread dismissal of alchemy as a largely insignificant historical footnote to science by prying into the revival of alchemy and its influence on the emerging subatomic sciences of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Morrisson demonstrates its surprising influence on the emerging subatomic sciences of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Specifically, Morrisson examines the resurfacing of occult circles during this time period and how their interest in alchemical tropes had a substantial and traceable impact upon the science of the day. Modern Alchemy chronicles several encounters between occult conceptions of alchemy and the new science, describing how academic chemists, inspired by the alchemy revival, attempted to transmute the elements; to make gold. Examining scientists publications, correspondence, talks, and laboratory notebooks as well as the writings of occultists, alchemical tomes, and science-fiction stories, he argues that during the birth of modern nuclear physics, the trajectories of science and occultism---so often considered antithetical---briefly merged. |
Contents
| 3 | |
1 From the Golden Dawn to the Alchemical Society | 31 |
2 Occult Chemistry Instrumentation and the Theosophical Science of Direct Perception | 65 |
3 Chemistry in the Borderland | 97 |
4 Atomic Alchemy and the Gold Standard | 135 |
Epilogue | 185 |
BoundaryWork Border Crossings and Trading Zones | 195 |
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A. E. Waite Alchemical Society alchemists alchemy’s ancient argued astral Atlantis atomic science Atwood’s Besant and Leadbeater Besant and Leadbeater’s Blavatsky Book of Enoch borderland boundary-work Britain British chemical elements Chemical Society chemists claims Collie concept Crookes Crowley Crowley’s discoveries early economic electrons elements energy ether experimental experiments explore Frederick Soddy Gernsback gold standard Golden Dawn helium Hermetic histories of chemistry human J. J. Thomson journals knowledge laboratory lectures London magic material matter meeting mesmerism metals modern alchemy modern atomic modern science monetary mystical nature neon notes novel nuclear occult Occult Chemistry occult revival occultists particles Philosopher’s Stone physical chemistry physicists position protyle published radium Ramsay Ramsay’s Redgrove ritual Rosicrucian Rutherford science and occultism science fiction science of radioactivity scientific scientists secret Sir William Society’s Soddy Soddy’s spiritual alchemy story subatomic theory Theosophical Society Theosophists transformation transmutation tropes twentieth century University Victorian