Alchemy in the Middle Ages

Alchemy in the Middle Ages was a mixture of science, philosophy, and mysticism. Far from operating within the modern definition of a scientific discipline, medieval alchemists approached their craft with a holistic attitude; they believed that purity of mind, body, and spirit was necessary to pursue the alchemical quest successfully. At the heart of medieval alchemy was the idea that all matter was composed of four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. With the right combination of elements, it was theorized, any substance on earth might be formed. This included precious metals as well as elixirs to cure disease and prolong life. Alchemists believed that the transmutation of one substance into another was possible; thus we have the clichà © of medieval alchemists seeking to turn lead into gold. Medieval alchemy was just as much art as science, and practitioners preserved their secrets with an obfuscating system of symbols and mysterious names for the materials they studied. Origins and History of Alchemy Alchemy originated in ancient times, evolving independently in China, India, and Greece. In all these areas the practice ultimately degenerated into superstition, but it migrated to Egypt and survived as a scholarly discipline. In medieval Europe, it was revived when 12th-century scholars translated Arabic works into Latin. The rediscovered writings of Aristotle also played a role. By the end of the 13th century, it was discussed seriously by leading philosophers, scientists, and theologians. The Goals of Medieval Alchemists To discover the relationship of man to the cosmos and take advantage of that relationship to the betterment of mankind.To find the philosophers stone, an elusive substance that was believed to make possible the creation of an elixir of immortality and the transmutation of common substances into gold.In the later Middle Ages, to use alchemy as a tool in the advancement of medicine (as Paracelsus did). Achievements  of Alchemists in the Middle Ages Medieval alchemists produced hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, potash, and sodium carbonate.They were able to identify the elements arsenic, antimony, and bismuth.Through their experiments, medieval alchemists invented and developed laboratory devices and procedures that are, in modified form, still used today.The practice of alchemy laid the foundation for the development of chemistry as a scientific discipline. Disreputable Associations of Alchemy Due to its pre-Christian origins and the secrecy in which its practitioners carried out their studies, alchemy was viewed by the Catholic Church with suspicion and ultimately condemned.Alchemy was never taught in Universities but was instead transmitted from teacher to apprentice or student clandestinely.Alchemy attracted followers of the occult, with which it is still associated today.There was no shortage of charlatans who used the trappings of alchemy to defraud. Notable Medieval Alchemists Thomas Aquinas was an eminent theologian who was permitted to study alchemy before it was condemned by the Church.Roger Bacon was the first European to describe the process for making gunpowder.Paracelsus used his understanding of chemical processes to advance the science of medicine. Sources and Suggested Reading Alchemy: Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul  by Titus Burckhardt; translated by William StoddartAlchemy: The Secret Art  by Stanislas Klossowski De RolaAlchemy: the medieval alchemists and their royal art  by Johannes FabriciusThe Philosophers Stone: A Quest for the Secrets of Alchemy  by Peter Marshall

The Legal Battle Between Fbi And Apple - 2339 Words

A federal judge ordered apple to help unlock an iPhone belonging to Syed Farook for the FBI, in which apple declined. Their logic behind declining the FBI’s request was that they would have to write new software that would be capable of opening hundreds and millions of phones. Apple executive Tim Cook argues that if the FBI could access this iPhone, nothing would stop them from doing it to many others. With these recent events the legal battle between the FBI and apple has reached its closing point, as the FBI found a way to hack into the apple device themselves. With this new information what privacy do we have if any information can be accessed regardless if it’s personal or protected? National security and personal privacy have been a hot topic for many years. With the NSA overstepping into our own privacy we never know if we are being watched or listened to. Although they claim that what they do is for our own protection, it’s still violating our personal privacy. It can be argued that almost too much is being done in terms of security to ensure â€Å"our safety† but the way things are going everyone seems to be a suspect. Cutting back on some of the measures they take could make a difference to those whose rights are being violated. Branching out to the types of security, national security has been divided into several categories. Political security, Economic Energy and natural resources security, Homeland security, Cybersecurity, Human security, and EnvironmentalShow MoreRelatedThe Legal Battle Between Apple And The Fbi1129 Words   |  5 Pagesshould have; regardless of the government’s demands. Apple, the company, known for making t he infamous iPhone and several other traditional electronic devices, doesn’t think the government should be allowed to break into their customer’s iPhones. Resulting in an intense prolonged legal battle between the government and Apple. The legal battle concerns a backdoor master key that would allow the government to see all personal data on a particular Apple device, regardless of the security measures that theRead MoreThe Concept Of Data Security1601 Words   |  7 Pagescases as to where security did not work. In this paper, I will examine the case between Apple and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Discussion and analysis Background The issue started when Federal Bureau of Investigations contacted Apple for some important data off Syed Rizwan Farook mobile phone. The FBI was looking for evidence, so they wanted to take a closer look at his cell phone records as well. However, Apple refused to comply with their request arguing that it would betray the consumerRead MoreThe Concept Of Data Security1630 Words   |  7 Pagesreasons Apple should stick to their guns and not aid the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Discussion and analysis Background Nevertheless the issue started when the Federal Bureau of Investigations contacted Apple for some important data off Syed Rizwan Farook mobile phone. The FBI was looking for evidence, so they wanted to take a closer look at his cell phone records. Ordinarily the government would have its own cyber department crack the phone, but the time they needed the help of Apple. HoweverRead MoreCase Study : The Apple Corporation1559 Words   |  7 PagesDescribe the challenge faced by that company or organization Currently, the Apple Corporation is undergoing pressure from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), along with other Federal entities, to compromise its stance on privacy protection for Apple’s consumers. This issue began with a tragic, mass shooting and the subsequent investigation that followed it. On December 2, 2015 an individual named Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik opened fire at a San Bernardino County DepartmentRead MoreThe Federal Bureau Of Investigation1697 Words   |  7 Pages Research Paper The real question here is, What kind of world do you want to live in? According to an article in Fortune Magazine one person said, â€Å"The Federal Bureau Of Investigation is creating a world where citizens rely on Apple to defend their rights, rather than the other way around.† A world where national security trumps personal privacy or would you rather live in a world where we have both national security and personal privacy. Amy Goodman from Democracy Now said in a segment, â€Å"InRead MoreFacts About The United States District Court Of Los Angeles1677 Words   |  7 PagesSyed Farook committed an act of terror, killing 14 people and injuring an additional 21 people. The couple was later linked to the terror group ISIS, prompting the FBI to attempt to gather information from Farook’s employer issued phone. The FBI pursued the US District Court of Los Angeles, which subsequently issued an order asserting Apple must provide â€Å"reasonable technical assistance † in unlocking the phone by providing three manners of assistance: allowing the government to enter more than 10 passcodesRead MoreThe Security Of Our Nation1359 Words   |  6 Pagesexcellent security. In an increasingly worldwide society, the government and its community struggle to find the proper balance between security and civil liberties, regardless the fact that privacy is an absolute necessity in a developed society like ours today. As a matter of fact, no one should have to accept less of one to get more of the other. There has to be a balance between the two of them. People claim that as a consequence of The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center terrorist attack, and withRead MoreWhat Action Should Be Taken Against Terrorism?2066 Words   |  9 Pagescollect information, and in which second parties- companies like Apple- have the right to decline aiding the government if it means risking the public’s privacy and safety. Many instances where the fbi infringes on the public’s privacy As new technology and new means of collecting and dispatching information pivotal to America’s national security surface, terrorists have given the government no other option, but to force companies like Apple to create â€Å"back doors† (Cook 2), within the encryption layoutRead MoreFederal Bureau Of Investigation : Special Agent1656 Words   |  7 PagesTheodore Roosevelt. The FBI, formerly know as the Bureau of Investigation (1909-1935) recruited men with previous law enforcement experience to become a part of this exclusive team that aimed to solve law violations such as bankruptcy, naturalization, antitrust, peonage, and land fraud. The Mann Act of 1910, which made transporting women over state lines for â€Å"immoral† purposes a crime, led to the first major expansion of jurisdiction for the bureau. During WWI, the FBI took over the responsibilityRead MoreA New Age of Music Piracy1946 Words   |  8 PagesRIAA is also working together with Congress to e nact new bills which would specifically give legal power to prevent music piracy. One act to prevent music piracy in America is the consideration of HR 2517. This is the Piracy Deterrence and Education Act that is being considered in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property. This act would mostly attack peer to peer networks and force the FBI and the U.S. Copyright Office to develop anti-piracy programs (AFM). Since 2003 the RIAA

Architecture Ancient Rome and Frank Lloyd Wright Free Essays

In Our Daily Lives By Frank Barr l. Introduction A. Architecture is one of the most common studies people will take in college. We will write a custom essay sample on Architecture: Ancient Rome and Frank Lloyd Wright or any similar topic only for you Order Now B. Thesis: Architecture is an active part of our daily life. II. History A. Ancient Greece B. Ancient Japan C. Ancient India Ill. Famous Architects A. Frank Lloyd Wright B. List of architects IV. Unique Architectural Designs A. Habitat 67 B. Atomic V. Conclusion Frank Barr May 6. 2013 Grade 6 Architecture Research Paper Architecture, one of the most common studies taken(and personally what I’m aging on). I believe that architecture, plays a main role in everyone’s life. â€Å"Architecture- The art or practice of designing and constructing buildings. â€Å". So basically, without architecture, wouldn’t any schools (yeah any students reading this probably do NOT want architecture to exist. ), we wouldn’t have any libraries, or any buildings in general. You can live four days without water, three days without food, but only three hours without shelter. So, you cannot LIVE without architecture, it is the act of creating buildings, buildings are shelter, without shelter you would die in three hours. So you can thank all the people in the field of architecture, that you are reading this now. Ancient Greek architecture is best known for its temples, if you were to visit you would find them all over the place. The ruins of many Greek temples are surprisingly still intact. The second most well known are the open air theaters, they have located them to date back to about 350 BC. Ancient Rome had much similar architecture, then again many Roman cultural things grew out of Greece. Like Greek Gods, myths, and again, their architecture. But much after Rome, was Europe, Europe wasn’t a lot alike Greece, but they shared some similarities. For instance, the open air theaters I mentioned that were located in Greece(as well as most of the Hellenic region), Europe, during the Shakespearean age, had many of them built. Although they were greatly refined and quickly grew into closed theaters, they were still there. Where Greek architecture is focused on using stone and clay building material, the Japanese used mostly wood whilst building. At first the Japanese were very primitive in their building, making mostly pit houses. But after the introduction of Buddhism, the Japanese started to create temples, but they had no material to build such things, so darted using wood. These temples started as one floor of the tall elaborate Japanese temples we know as of today. But as their skills increased, so did the size of the temples, they eventually grew to be about eight floors tall. Japanese architecture has been described as, â€Å"Impossible†. That is, due to its wooden frame being fairly weak, though it can hold up to five families, even at its tallest height. When Greece was using clay, and Japan was using wood, India was sitting there using sticks and stones(which mind you, did in fact, break their bones). India was one of he most primitive building societies. But, they eventually grew to become the greatest architects of the modern world, ex. The Tag Mall. Indian architecture is old, yet has incorporated many modern values. The style they used to build the Tag Mall soon spread worldwide and became very popular at the time. The earliest buildings from India found dated back to about 2500 B. C. After several centuries of their stone type building,Linda finally discovered bronze. This discovery rocked the country, the style of building changed completely. Not only did it change that, it also changed their military strength. By far one of the most famous and well recognized architects is, Frank Lloyd Wright. Many collectors would crave to live in a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (Architecture,l). He has designed several structures in Toledo alone. With his better known, â€Å"Falling Water†, he used â€Å"Organic Architecture†, ex. He built it right on top of a waterfall. Several architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright used Organic Architecture. Through all of his years of architecture, it is said that he always hated museums, except for the Solomon R. Cunningham Museum (Thiele, 147). Personally I admire Frank Lloyd Wright, Eve always looked up to him as one of the greatest architects ever. But alas there are more who would pass him. When you think of â€Å"from the inside out†, what comes to mind, probably not the Philharmonic Theatre. But Sharron does, that’s probably because he planned the Philharmonic from the inside out, it is a world renowned structure. Keno Tangent, is a world renowned Japanese architect (Architecture, 1). Out of all famous architects, one of the most important is Doll Loss. He ranks as one of the most important pioneers of the modern movement in architecture (Architecture, 1). Fumier Make is responsible for of the great Japanese urban designs we see today. He is recognized for his urban designs, which you can find in most places in Japan (Architecture, 1). Habitat 67 is a housing complex located in Montreal, Canada. It was designed by famous architect, Mosher Safe. When Mosher put in the idea for Habitat 67 he was ridiculed for thinking up such absurd designs. Eventually he was able to come up with a model, after that the board of architecture decided he could do it. Mosher struggle to find a team willing to build such an absurd structure but eventually he succeeded. The team built Habitat 67 at an impossible rate, it was finished within five years after Mosher submitted the project. Habitat 67 is often referred to as â€Å"Impossible†, or â€Å"Logos all over again†. I think It was amazing how hard Mosher worked to make this impossible project become a reality. Atomic, also referred to as â€Å"The Atom building†, is a completely metal structure located in Brussels, atomic resembles the shape of an atom. Atomic is only big enough to hold about 100 people at once. When you walk into one of the branches of the atom like shape of Atomic, all you will see is darkness. Take a few steps and the motion insensitive neon lights will turn on. You will walk and be lost in a world of optical illusions and â€Å"magic† lights. At the ball shape part of each branch, you will find a room, you can rent these rooms for a single night . Although I have never been to Atomic I dream that in the near future I would be able to have the chance to go. To wrap this up all I have to say is that I dream of someday becoming an architect. Architecture is a main part of our daily lives, without it we’d be dead. I don’t think anyone I know really appreciates the people who took years out of their lives to give us things Atomic and Habitat 67. People don’t spend their time to realize how much hard work it would have taken to build such elaborate things like ancient Japanese temples and Hellenic open air theaters. I dream of a world where people actually say â€Å"Thank you† to the people that designed their house, their school, all their buildings. You Just don’t see that happening these days. Thank you for your time, that is all. Bibliography â€Å"Architecture. † Wisped. 4/16/13.. â€Å"Famous Architects. † Architecture. 4/15/13.. Thiele, Sabine. Icons of Architecture. New York: Prelates, 1999. How to cite Architecture: Ancient Rome and Frank Lloyd Wright, Papers