4 ms·
Natural philosophy and alchemy were names for science before science. Alchemy had a connotation of being very ceremonial; knowledge had to spread by group gath
by david-cako 6y ago
Natural philosophy and alchemy were names for science before science. Alchemy had a connotation of being very ceremonial; knowledge had to spread by group gatherings and word of mouth.
Cutting edge science today would have been called alchemy historically. Artificial intelligence, gene editing, etc. Fortunately scientists have a pretty good reputation now, where alchemists of the past had to research and convene in secret.
- ColanR 6y agoPeople don't realize, I think, how much modern science owes its tools and methodologies to alchemy. I like your comparison between alchemy and AI. Even modern neural nets would fit alchemical concepts pretty well - "we flattened a rock, put lightning inside it, and made it speak to us with a human voice!"