In your opinion, is alchemy a forbidden magic or a science?

Question

i thinnk it is a science, because it layed down the basics of physics and chemistry., chemicals were used in all the formulas and people only think its a magic because of myths like someone who tried to create a homunculus, or trying to make gold out of lead (although that part is true, listen to the rest) by selling your soul to the devil and other stuff.

Answer 1

Alchemy was practiced by many great scientists, even Newton the mathematician.  Also great scientists were burned at the stake for doing things like early photography experiments, making medicines, beware the Inquisition!!  Many witches that got fried were using  alchemy to make  things too.  Anything the church didn't understand was considered magic and evil until proven other wise. I think they just liked burning people. Good science came out of alchemy and as you say was the base of modern chemistry.

Answer 2

And astrology was the beginning of astronomy, but it's not a science - it's a superstition.  It doesn't work, any more than alchemy works.  It's not science OR magic because both of those implies that it works.  And it doesn't.

Answer 3

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Arthur C. Clarke, "Profiles of The Future", 1961 (Clarke's third law)

Like the guy above me said, alchemy can be achieved and is routinely on the Sun, in nuclear reactors, and in particle accelerators.  Quantities produced have never been significant however.  Zee problem is E=mc^2.  

This might be interesting to you as well:

http://www.mkaku.org/

Answer 4

First of all, unless we're talking harming others, raising the dead, or summoning demonic spirits, no magic is forbidden.

Secondly, Alchemy is both - 99% of magic is simply science that predates the Scientific Method.

Thirdly, Gunpowder was once magical.

Fourthly, If you mean alchemy as the creation of chemicals or compounds from other sources then it is a science. If you mean it as the synergy of spirit to base matter or Prima Materia as it is called in most circles (primal material which has the potential to become anything given the correct sircumstances - think periodic table with only one entry) then that is considered more esotheric.

ALL THAT SAID, it is possible to create gold from base metals or grow diamonds.

The problem is it costs more to make the gold than the gold is worth.

Answer 5

It has deep metaphorical and psychological aspects. If you want to be a chemist, study modern chemistry. If you want to learn more about psychology and Jung, then study alchemy.

I don't think you need to sell your soul to study alchemy, but some religious radicals hate anything they have never studied or understood. Anything beyond their narrow mind-set is evil.