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Philosopher stone
The philosopher s stone is the legendary goal of alchemy: a substance said to transmute base metals into gold (transmutation) and to provide the elixir of long life (universal panacea). Its name (Latin "lapis philosophorum") goes back to medieval alchemical texts; it is the symbol of the "Great Work".
Tradition
The idea of the philosopher s stone appears in Chinese texts (alchemical Taoism), Arabic texts (Jabir ibn Hayyan, "Geber" in Latin) and European medieval ones (Roger Bacon, Albertus Magnus, Thomas Aquinas). Nicholas Flamel (1330-1418), a Parisian scribe, became an alchemical legend because he was believed to possess the stone. Isaac Newton devoted much of his life to alchemical research, alongside his work in physics.
Symbolic reading
Carl Gustav Jung, in his studies on alchemy, read the philosopher s stone as a symbol of the integrated Self, of attained psychic wholeness. The alchemical "Great Work" becomes a metaphor for the process of individuation: from nigredo (inner darkness) to albedo (illumination) and finally rubedo (integrated fulfilment). It remains one of the most powerful symbols of Western esotericism.
FAQ
Has it ever been found?
No. The transmutation of metals into gold in a chemical sense is impossible by alchemical methods. It is a symbol, not an object.
Did Newton believe in alchemy?
Yes, deeply. His alchemical papers are studied by historians of science to understand the mindset of the seventeenth century.
Is it linked to Harry Potter?
The first book of the saga is titled "Harry Potter and the Philosopher s Stone" and reuses the alchemical symbol in a fantasy key.