H. Stanley Redgrove

Bygone beliefs: Being a series of excursions in the byways of thought is a collection of essays examining the evolution of human ideas, philosophy, and superstition across history. The work explores how ancient and medieval beliefs influenced contemporary understanding, emphasizing the enduring significance of past thought systems. Through reflections on animism, early philosophical inquiry, and alchemical traditions, the essays reveal the ways in which ideas develop, transform, and intersect across cultures and eras. The narrative highlights key figures and movements, demonstrating how intellectual curiosity and imaginative thinking shaped both scientific and philosophical progress. By investigating the byways of human thought, the work offers insights into the interconnectedness of belief, knowledge, and cultural expression. The author encourages readers to appreciate the historical roots of modern perspectives, recognizing that even seemingly fantastical ideas contributed to the formation of reasoned inquiry and critical thought. The book blends scholarly observation with philosophical reflection, fostering a deeper understanding of the historical trajectory of human cognition and the lessons it offers for interpreting contemporary ideas.

Reproduction of the original. The publishing house Megali specialises in reproducing historical works in large print to make reading easier for people with impaired vision.

Reproduction of the original. The publishing house Megali specialises in reproducing historical works in large print to make reading easier for people with impaired vision.

The book "" Bygone Beliefs: Being a Series of Excursions in the Byways of Thought "" has been considered important throughout the human history, and so that this work is never forgotten we have made efforts in its preservation by republishing this book in a modern format for present and future generations. This whole book has been reformatted, retyped and designed. These books are not made of scanned copies and hence the text is clear and readable.

This book has been considered important throughout the human history, and so that this work is never forgotten Alpha Editions has made efforts in its preservation by republishing this book in a modern format for the present and future generations. This whole book has been re-formatted, re-typed and re-designed. These books are not made of scanned copies of their original work, and hence the text is clear and readable.

Being a brief account of the alchemistic doctrines, and their relations, to mysticism on the one hand, and to recent discoveries in physical science on the other hand; together with some particulars regarding the lives and teachings of the most noted alchemists.

Alchemy is the medieval predecessor of chemistry which was based on trying to transform matter, especially changing base metals into gold. This vintage book explores the various alchemistic doctrines, as well as their relationships with mysticism and science. Also included are chapters on the lives and theories of the most notable alchemists. Contents include: "The Aim of Alchemy", "The Transcendental Theory of Alchemy", "Failure of the Transcendental Theory", "The Qualifications of the Adept", "Alchemistic Language", "Alchemists of a Mystical Type", "The Meaning of Alchemy", "Opinions of other Writers", etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with that in mind that we are republishing this volume now in a modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on folklore.

This book has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature. This forms a part of the knowledge base for future generations. We have represented this book in the same form as it was first published. Hence any marks seen are left intentionally to preserve its true nature.

Reproduction of the original: Bygone Beliefs Being a Series of Excursions in the Byways of Thought by H. Stanley Redgrove

Reproduktion des Originals: Bygone Beliefs Being a Series of Excursions in the Byways of Thought von H. Stanley Redgrove

It is exceedingly gratifying to me that a second edition of this book should be called for. But still more welcome is the change in the attitude of the educated world towards the old-time alchemists and their theories which has taken place during the past few years. The theory of the origin of Alchemy put forward in Chapter I has led to considerable discussion; but whilst this theory has met with general acceptance, some of its earlier critics took it as implying far more than is actually the case. As a result of further research my conviction of its truth has become more fully confirmed, and in my recent work entitled Bygone Beliefs (Rider, 1920), under the title of "The Quest of the Philosopher's Stone," I have found it possible to adduce further evidence in this connection. At the same time, whilst I became increasingly convinced that the main alchemistic hypotheses were drawn from the domain of mystical theology and applied to physics and chemistry by way of analogy, it also became evident to me that the crude physiology of bygone ages and remnants of the old phallic faith formed a further and subsidiary source of alchemistic theory. I have barely, if at all, touched on this matter in the present work; the reader who is interested will find it dealt with in some detail in "The Phallic Element in Alchemical Doctrine" in my Bygone Beliefs.