Andreas Libavius | Biography

Andreas Libavius, born around 1560, lived and worked in Germany at a time when the field of chemistry was still trying to grow out of its ancient association with the mystical alchemy. Libavius sought to resolve some of the philosophical issues stirred up with the death of Paracelsus. His career began well into a generation after Paracelsus tried to give life to chemistry by focusing its purpose on developing medicines. Paracelsus was ineffective and inaccurate in presenting his ideas. After his death, there was a great division among those studying chemistry. The division was between those who wished to study the effective application of generalizable principles and those who wished to learn and practice the ancient ways. The iatrochemists who sought to develop medicines out of minerals were, in a primitive way, working to grow the field into a true science. Galenists were those who still relied on the mystical solutions. The Galenist tradition was handed down from antiquity without the benefit of any scientific test. It involved cabalistic ceremonies for developing healing substances. Paracelsus recognized something about what was scientifically needed but because he could not accurately communicate his ideas, those associated with the mystical only gained more strength.

This was the situation that Libavius sought to moderate. Libavius was originally a professor of history and poetry before earning a degree in medicine. He was attracted to the thinking of the iatrochemists who followed Paracelsus' tradition. However, Libavius resented the disorganization, inconsistencies, and blatant untruths found in Paracelsus' teachings. In addition, Libavius noted that Paracelsus knew the potential of chemicals but emphasized the elixir of these chemicals and not the substance found in the residuals. The iatrochemists were beginning to recognize that the elixir usually contained little more than water and acid, but the philosophy that their study was based on did not allow the logical solution of studying the residuals. The philosophy stated that medicines worked because they contained mostly the pure substance. When the pure is extracted, what is left behind is the impure or unnatural. It took the new thinking of Libavius to give the framework necessary for appropriate experimentation with the residuals.

Libavius wrote a book in 1597 that collected the comprehensive knowledge of chemistry to that time. He described chemistry in terms that made the search for medicines only a part of a greater discipline. Other parts included metallurgy and industrial applications. He further introduced new classifications with logical connections as a means to bolster up the new discipline. In his book, he established standard methods of study and of describing known chemicals.

Although the book was a necessary key in drawing the scientific aspects of chemistry away the transmutation of ancient alchemy, it did not have a direct effect on the teaching of chemistry. The book was poorly distributed particularly because it was written in Latin. However, the sections on laboratory methods were written in German and found popular appeal.

As the chemists of the sixteenth century were a closely communicating society, it is reasonable to assume that the influence of Libavius was greater than the acceptance of his book. Twelve years after the book's publication, the University of Marburg became the first university to offer formal instruction in chemistry in line within the guidelines set down by Libavius. He died five years later in the year 1616.