"I've never wanted to be a witch, but an alchemist, now that's a different matter. To invent this wizard world, I've learned a ridiculous amount about alchemy. Perhaps much of it I'll never use in the books, but I have to know in detail what magic can and cannot do in order to set the parameters and establish the stories' internal logic." – J.K. Rowling, "Face to Face with J K Rowling: Casting a Spell Over Young Minds," The Herald, 7 December 1998.
Did alchemy play any role in the shaping of modern day chemistry? The Dark Ages, so named because of the supposed lack of intellectual development in Europe for a time period after the collapse of the Roman Empire, is in fact the beginning of an interesting time for chemistry. The alchemists were the predecessors to modern day chemists, and alchemy was the chemistry of the Middle Ages. Were alchemists true scientists or charlatans? What did they do for a living? Was turning lead into gold a chemical goal with lucrative incentive or was it symbolic of a life transformation? Were there any philosophical notions in the preparation of an alchemist’s potions? We will attempt to answer these questions and more in this class. We will search for our answers from a variety of sources and subjects, including history, philosophy, science and the scientific method, art, and literature.