Alchemy, H. Stanley Redgrove's historical account
Philosopher's Stone
Redgrove opens his account with the familiar description of alchemy as transmuting base metals through the Philosopher's Stone. He immediately calls that description incomplete and places it within a wider philosophical programme. In his discussion of Roger Bacon, he records attributed beliefs in both transmutation and extension of life.
Also known as Philosophers Stone · Alchemical Stone
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In the sources
An ill-defined agent of transmutation
DocumentedRedgrove describes the Stone as the ill-defined agent in a common account of changing base metals into gold. He treats this as a starting definition that is too narrow to explain alchemy's philosophical aims.
Powers attributed in the Bacon account
DocumentedRedgrove says Roger Bacon believed the Stone could transmute large quantities of base metal and extend individual life. The passage documents an attributed historical belief, not demonstrated powers.
Context & interpretation
This entry concerns the Stone as a proposed substance and idea in Redgrove's account, not a verified artefact or an effective chemical or medical product. Claims attributed to Roger Bacon are mediated by Redgrove and his cited texts, rather than independently authenticated here.
Original passages
Source 1
Alchemy: Ancient and Modern
an ill-defined something called the Philosopher's StoneOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Chapter I, printed p. 1
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0023-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0023-E001-P0020
- Original scan leaf
- 26
- Recorded leaf number
- 26
- Current Reader position
- 21
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Source 2
Alchemy: Ancient and Modern
to extend the life of the individualOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Chapter IV, Roger Bacon, printed p. 46
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0023-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0023-E001-P0071
- Original scan leaf
- 83
- Recorded leaf number
- 83
- Current Reader position
- 72
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader