The Riddle of Alchemy

This is an authoritative and erudite treatment of alchemy in terms of history, psychology and nomothetic science. It shows the influence of alchemy from early Greek times onwards, also covering its role during the Renaissance, and its influence on Boehme and Jung. There is a very informative chapter on the death of mechanical science, describing its history and limitations in excluding the subject – a position called into question by quantum physics and more recent studies of consciousness that call for new epistemic and ontological foundations getting beyond determinism, optimism, materialism and positivism. The alchemical view is animistic and aligns with life.