Natural sciences have always interested mankind, and throughout civilization, we have sought to discover how the world works. This natural curiosity is best fueled by scientific thought and reason. Science is a constantly evolving area of study, and scholars in the previous centuries sometimes took a mystical view on science, one of these areas of study is alchemy. Many significant men contributed to the study of alchemy. Four of the most prominent include: Albertus Magnus, Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus, and Allesandro Volta. Although their ideas are considered erroneous by modern standards of science, they still had important scientific investigations and influenced scientific advancements in centuries to come.
To begin, Albertus Magnus, also known as Albert the Great, was one of the most acclaimed thinkers to appear during the Middle Ages. The exact date of Albert’s birth is unknown, but it is theorized that he was born into a knightly family around the year 1200 in Lauingen an der Donau, Germany. By 1223, Albertus had moved to Italy to study at the University of Padua and was admitted into the Dominican order. To complete his training for the Dominican order, he traveled to Cologne. During this time, “he finished his training as well as completing a course of studies in theology by 1228.” (Führer, 2014, p. 51) Soon after, he began teaching as a lector at Cologne, Hildesheim, Freiburg im Breisgau, Regensburg, and Strassburg. While Albertus was busy teaching, he wrote his first major book, De Natura Boni. Thirteen years later, Albertus was sent to the University of Paris where he completed his theological education.
Most of Albert’s contributions came through careful observations from describing and classifying what he obser...
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Contemporary approaches in understanding health, illness and its treatment largely differ from the traditional way of treating people’s health conditions. For instance, before the “Age of Reason” beliefs about vindictive spirits, evil and divine intervention, and practices of sorcery and witchcraft were widely held (Porter 1997 as cited in Williams, 2003). Another example is the practice of Greek medicine; a more naturalistic approach used by the practitioner to tune the body through humoral theories of balance and lifestyle modification. Similarly, during this age, the combination of physical, emotional, and spiritual factors contributed to the development of the “sick man” (Williams, 2003). These medical teachings were authoritative until the eighteenth century. However, towards the nineteenth century, numerous discoveries such as Vesalius’ anatomical atlas and Harvey’s process of blood circulation challenged mainstream medicine, which paved the way for the rise of a newer and more systematic form of medicine (Williams, 2003, p. 11), marking the growth and supremacy of scientific medicine. The evolution of scientific medicine is well documented in several literature (Gabe, Keheller, & Williams, 1994; Longino, 1998; Marcum, 2008; Morris, 2000; Quirke & Gaudilliere, 2008; Williams, 2003). A progressive shift from preference of either licensed or unlicensed healers to the legitimization of the medical profession and medicalisation of natural life experiences had occurred (Gabe, et al., 1994). With this, scientific medicine, commonly known as biomedicine, continued to dominate the discourse of health and illness from the end of the 18th century up to the present (Williams, 2003). Despite this perceived supremacy, scientific medicine...
Ferinad Puretz, Max. 'True Science', Review of Peter Medawar, Advice to a Young Scientist. N.p.: n.p., 1980. Print.
Einstein began his formal education at a school in Ulm. Contrary to what you would think Albert hated formal schooling. He often did poorly in subjects such as Geography, Language, and History, but excelled in Mathematics and Science. He generally did his real studies at home where he concentrated on physics, mathematics, and philosophy. One year one of Einstein’s teachers suggested that he leave school, so at mid-term the 15 year old boy quit school. Einstein then moved to Italy to help his father in business. In 1895, he failed the entrance exam for the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. They suggested that he studied at a Swiss school in Aarau. There he studied theories of electromagnetism, by James Clark Maxwell. At the age of 16, he wrote an essay on why he would like to study theoretical math or physics. He stated, "All above it is my individual disposition for abstract and mathematical thought, my lack of imagination in practical talent. My inclinations have also led me to resolve that is quite natural; one always likes to do things which one has talent. And there is a certain independence in the scientific profession which greatly pleases me." He graduated from the Swiss school, in 1896 at 17 years old. Then he was then accepted to the Institute of Technology in Zurich. This is where he met his first wife, Melvia Merich; she was the only girl in his physics class. They had a daughter, Lieserl, together who was given up for adoption and never see or heard of again. Th...
Voltaire, a very prominent figure in too many expertise to list, from the 1700’s, addresses this topic
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Albert was born into royalty in 1895 and at birth, was fourth in line to the throne. Due to the time period and the nature of aristocratic families, his parents were removed from his day to day upbringing. He suf...
In 1894 Einstein’s family moved to Milan but Albert stayed behind in Munich. In 1895 Albert failed an examination that would have allowed him to study for a diploma as an electrical engineer at the Eidgenossiche Technische Hochschule in Zurich. After some time he graduated in 1900 as a teacher, teaching mathematics at the Technical High School in Winterthur.
Albert Einstein was a world renowned scientist that may be considered one of history’s greatest scientist with his creation of the Theory of Relativity or, E=MC^2. He was born in Ulm, Wurttemberg, Germany on March 14, 1897. His father’s name was Hermann Einstein and his mother’s name was Pauline Einstein. (Hasday) Though despite his outstanding success he had very many problems throughout his life that he had to struggle greatly to overcome. Albert Einstein overcame failure by pursuing his intellectual dreams, working hard to make a life for himself, and achieving the nobel prize in physics.
...image that most easily comes to mind, it does not mean it is accurate. It fails to include the many Eastern alchemists, such as the Chinese, that contributed a significant amount of knowledge to the world. While Chinese alchemy and western alchemy had similar methods and ideas, Chinese alchemy differed in that it centered more on uncovering the secret to immortality by blending in beliefs from Taoism. Eventually, they took a different course in history. Western alchemy became the main forerunner of chemistry, while Chinese alchemy took a more medicinal route. But by the 11th century CE, many had abandoned Chinese alchemy because they realized that immortality could not be found in minerals. And although Chinese alchemy transitioned into mystical pursuits, as the west would ultimately do as well, its concrete contributions, such as gunpowder, should not be forgotten.