it is useful to have some sense of the theoretical
models we have used to describe the world; how
these models have changed over time; and the
factors that have lead to their change

PonderingAbout our models gives us perspective,
keeps our thinking flexible, inhibits us from reifying
theory, and readies us to discard existing models
when they can no longer account for the data

if were to look back at the long line of theoretical
models that have come and gone, we would
inevitably encounter alchemy

from Wikipedia -

"In the history of science, alchemy (Arabic: al-khimia)
refers to both an early form of the investigation of
nature and an early philosophical and spiritual
discipline, both combining elements of chemistry,
metallurgy, physics, medicine, astrology, semiotics,
mysticism, spiritualism, and art all as parts of one
greater force.

alchemy has been practiced in Mesopotamia,
Ancient Egypt, Persia, India, and China, in Classical
Greece and Rome, in the Muslim civilization, and
then in Europe up to the 19th century — in a
complex network of schools and philosophical
systems spanning at least 2500 years "

as per the above definition, alchemy is a vast topic;
and there will be further PonderAbout posts on:
Isaac Newton's extensive alchemic work, alchemy
as it relates to the transmutation of the soul . . .
and more

but lets start with the basic, ABC's of alchemy -
the concept of the four elements and the process
of the transmutation of matter

these are described in the video below by author
Cherry Gilchrist



the above video is a brief excerpt from
Stephen Hawking's Universe