Eloquence in the Marketplace: Erudition and Pragmatic Humanism in the Restoration of Chymia

Abstract

This chapter focuses upon the relation between textual and social practices that influenced the formation of a communal approach to acquiring chemical knowledge in the early seventeenth century. It also describes the utilitarian purpose of a humanist-inspired program of chemical learning that blended practices of textual/linguistic expertise and artisanal know-how. Humanism, made pragmatic, sought to define the principles for "making things well." In the design of Andreas Libavius (ca. 1555-1616), interpretive intuitions resulting from practiced reading of ancient and medieval texts combined with a knowledge of workshop language to build consensus about chymia's tools, procedures, and materials and to define its principia artificialia.

Alchemical Practice: Looking Towards the Chemical Humanities

“…Thus, artisanal experience can be understood by unpacking the meaning behind mutually agreed upon hermetic Decknamen. 25 However, this is complicated by the fact that alchemical terms frequently had varying contemporary definitions: Some understood alchemy as transmutation of metals, some as preparing medicaments, others said it was purely esoteric, and many believed it was a combination of many or all these things. 26 Hermeticism can illuminate the role of religion and mysticism within alchemy, as hagiographical hermetic writings and hermetically secretive language mediate layered alchemical meaning.…”

Isaac Newton, scholar: An exceptional example of normal erudition

“…The study of alchemy usually began in the library and involved “collecting, assessing, comparing, and commenting on” alchemical texts, both those of the historical canon and new treatises and commentaries (p. 332). Bruce Moran () looks specifically at Andreas Libavius' combination of humanist erudition with the technical and vernacular language of the workshop. Moran shows how Libavius emphasized an understanding both of “the language of artisanal praxis,” gained through practical experience in the workshop or laboratory, and of humanist methods of scholarship to adequately read the confusing and ambiguous figurative alchemical texts (p. 53).…”