La rationalité de l’hermétisme

Abstract

Alchemical theories in the 17th century were frequently called hermetic because of their attachment to an independent tradition started by Hermes Trismegitus and not by Aristotle or Galen. Despite it refers to a mythical tradition, alchemy is not an occult science. Classical alchemy was the chemistry of his time and has to be distinguish from irrational tenets which expand during the 19th century as esoterism.

Keywords

• alchemy
• chemistry
• esoterism
• hermeticism
• irrational
• occultism