"Decknamen or pseudochemical language"? Eirenaeus Philalethes and Carl Jung

Area of Science:

• History of Science
• Psychology
• Alchemy

Background:

• Carl Jung's interpretation of alchemy focused on psychological states.
• He cited Eirenaeus Philalethes (George Starkey) as a key alchemical author.

Discussion:

• This study re-evaluates George Starkey's alchemical writings.
• It challenges Carl Jung's assessment of Starkey's work and its alchemical intent.

Key Insights:

• George Starkey's alchemical work was not solely focused on psychological states.
• Jung's interpretation of this specific alchemical author is critically re-examined.

Outlook:

• The findings question the broader applicability of Jungian psychology to alchemy.
• Further research into historical alchemical texts is warranted.