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Sometimes, when we discover something absolutely new, it challenges every conceivable view of our universe. And when this happens, it can be unsettling. Humanity is again on the brink of what we now call a "paradigm shift": artificial intelligence, applied quantum mechanics, and the rest. Sometimes we try to resist, and run back towards the familiar.
The Hidden Plague is a epistolary view of one person of such an occurrence... |
"Everyone knows Newton as the great scientist. Few remember that he spent half his life muddling with alchemy, looking for the philosopher's stone. That was the pebble by the seashore he really wanted to find."
Fritz Leiber, "Poor Superman" (1951)
From the Desk of Cornelious Jameson Eldrich the Third
Emeritus Wizard, Third Class
Emeritus Wizard, Third Class
Dear Sirs and Madams,
In my studies of worldly phenomena, the varieties of magical forms out there have never ceased to amaze and delight me. That is, true magical phenomena, of course. What I put down here today is nothing of the sort.
It has come to my attention that recently, the younger generation has been enamored of this new fad magic known as "Science!" That's right, Science!
Now, I know what you're thinking, my most learned colleagues: nobody in their right mind would ever embrace such malarkey as this so-called science when there are perfectly legitimate fields of magical study out there that one can embrace in our modern world. I pray you heed my words, and watch closely your students, however, as this science has become a plague on many a wizarding campus of late.
"What is this science all about?" you may be asking yourselves. Those of you who haven't already discovered the plague on your classrooms, that is. Well, in a nutshell, science claims that there are certain structural constants within the universe that govern how things interact in the world. In fact, this pseudo-magic has a set of laws that they have given a fanciful name, calling them "Physics."
According to these physics laws, the world is governed by such ludicrous restrictions as "Matter can neither be created nor destroyed, but remains constant." I ask you, my fellows, have you ever heard such drivel in your lives? Another of their blasphemous teachings implies that all matter is made up of 100 or so "elements" such as "carbon" and "tin" and not indeed merely a configuration of one or more of the four primal elements, air, earth, fire, and water... preposterous!
I'm sure, most learned colleagues, that you can agree that such heretical teachings can do nothing but hold our apprentices back from their gainful education in the mystic arts and that the spread of these lies should be stamped out before it is too late. This being the case, I ask you, one and all, to join with me and help in the discrediting of the so-called "sciences" before it is too late.
I look forward to hearing back from you at your earliest convenience on this matter but do urge some haste before the seed of this virus takes hold too firmly within our august institutions of learning.
Warmest regards,
Cornelious Jameson Eldrich the Third,
Emeritus Wizard, Third Class.
In my studies of worldly phenomena, the varieties of magical forms out there have never ceased to amaze and delight me. That is, true magical phenomena, of course. What I put down here today is nothing of the sort.
It has come to my attention that recently, the younger generation has been enamored of this new fad magic known as "Science!" That's right, Science!
Now, I know what you're thinking, my most learned colleagues: nobody in their right mind would ever embrace such malarkey as this so-called science when there are perfectly legitimate fields of magical study out there that one can embrace in our modern world. I pray you heed my words, and watch closely your students, however, as this science has become a plague on many a wizarding campus of late.
"What is this science all about?" you may be asking yourselves. Those of you who haven't already discovered the plague on your classrooms, that is. Well, in a nutshell, science claims that there are certain structural constants within the universe that govern how things interact in the world. In fact, this pseudo-magic has a set of laws that they have given a fanciful name, calling them "Physics."
According to these physics laws, the world is governed by such ludicrous restrictions as "Matter can neither be created nor destroyed, but remains constant." I ask you, my fellows, have you ever heard such drivel in your lives? Another of their blasphemous teachings implies that all matter is made up of 100 or so "elements" such as "carbon" and "tin" and not indeed merely a configuration of one or more of the four primal elements, air, earth, fire, and water... preposterous!
I'm sure, most learned colleagues, that you can agree that such heretical teachings can do nothing but hold our apprentices back from their gainful education in the mystic arts and that the spread of these lies should be stamped out before it is too late. This being the case, I ask you, one and all, to join with me and help in the discrediting of the so-called "sciences" before it is too late.
I look forward to hearing back from you at your earliest convenience on this matter but do urge some haste before the seed of this virus takes hold too firmly within our august institutions of learning.
Warmest regards,
Cornelious Jameson Eldrich the Third,
Emeritus Wizard, Third Class.
Ponder this
What finally cause the academic abandonment of alchemy towards chemistry?
What would cause us to abandon our current understanding of the world?
Discuss
What new developments and discoveries in the hard sciences that may challenge our current understanding of the world? What evidence would it take to shift us towards a different view?
Further readings
Alchemy, from the Chemical Encyclopedia, for a concise definition and differentiation between alchemy and chemistry
The Secrets of Alchemy, from the Chemical Heritage Foundation
Alchemy and the Philosopher's Stone, by Martyn Shuttleworth
