<p>In the latter half of the second chapter, Newman discusses the authors and philosophers who argued in favour of alchemy and its ability to transmute base metals into a more precious one. A few prominent figures are discussed, followed by more attacks against the legitimacy of transmutation during the 13th– 16thcenturies. We will look at [&hellip;]</p>

<p>The following is a summary of William Newman’s book on the history of alchemy, Promethean Ambitions. Due to the overwhelming information offered in the book, I will divide summaries into several portions rather arbitrarily, the first of which deals with the longstanding contest between man and nature from the antiquity, and three things are discussed [&hellip;]</p>