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Prime Matter

Prime Matter

Prime matter is the principle in alchemy and hermeticism that there is an apex of matter, which cruder matter can have finer matter released from inferior material to make those higher up in the hierarchy (Copenhaver 2015, 157). It is also included in the idea that material properties may be detached from a thing’s body, seen as bare featureless, prime matter, which is able to accept different properties (Copenhaver 180). From this, the basis for alchemy can be seen. If a substance may be stripped of its properties and assigned new properties, it would allow that under certain conditions, one metal could be transformed into gold.  Inherent in this belief is the connection to the teachings of Aristotle, specifically dualism which states that matter and physical properties are not directly connected, and which allows matter to be given new properties. This idea was expanded on by Geber, who deviated from the Aristotelian origins of the principle of prime matter, differing in the core substances that make up all matter, noting that the differences in materials are mainly qualitative consisting of differences in color, smell, taste, texture etc. as well as having slight micro structural differences. This variation on the principles of prime matter originating from Aristotle by Geber incorporates the idea of atomism into the teachings of Aristotle as well as having strong roots in the principles and application of transformations and alchemy (Copenhaver 2015, 180). 

Key Words: Teleology, Dualism, hidden qualities, atomism alchemy, transformation, hermeticism. 

References:
Copenhaver, B. (2015). The Book of Magic: From Antiquity to the Enlightenment. Penguin Classics.

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