Page 2 - Paracelsus Three Books of Philosophy

Hermetic Research Series Number 16

Paracelsus
Three Books of Philosophy
written to the Athenians

This work by Paracelsus appears to have first been published in a German edition in
1564. An English translation was printed with Oswald Croll’s ‘Philosophy reformed’ at
London in 1657.

This is one of Paracelsus’ philosophical and cosmological works, and reveals his
thoughts on the spiritual processess that underlie outward creation. Although this not a
technical alchemical work it throws light upon ideas of how the world was constructed,
and the interplay of the spirits of the elements that was an important aspect of Paracelsus’
world view. It is not entirely certain whether the ‘three booksto the Athenians’ was written
by Paracelsus himself, or put together by one of his students from possible drafts of his
master

Whatever the authorship, this book was a significant philosophical-cosmologicalwork
of the sixteenth century, promoting views oncosmology, founded on alchemical principles,
that challenged the conventional Biblical creation story. These views were attacked by the
German-Swiss theologian, Erastus (1524-1583).

For this edition Adam McLean has extensively edited and modernised the English.

Cover illustration is a woodcut of Paracelsus, from Astronomica et Astrologica, 1567,
coloured by Adam McLean

Adam McLean
15 Keir Street
Glasgow G41 2NP
UK
www.alchemywebsite.com/bookshop