QUADERNI DI NOCTUA
La tradizione filosofica dall’antico al moderno. Studi e testi
History of Philosophy from the Ancient to the Modern Age. Studies and Editions
Autore / Author: Diego Gorini González
Affiliazione / Author affiliation: Università del Salento, Lecce – Universität zu Köln
Titolo / Title: Reason Tried by Fire: The Rota Alphabetalis and Other Logical and Mnemonic Devices in the Pseudo-Lullian Alchemical Codicillus
Abstract: This article explores the Codicillus, a pivotal yet understudied text within the pseudo-Lullian alchemical corpus, dating back to the mid-fourteenth century. The aim is to present the conceptual development of the alchemical doctrine contained in the work by elucidating its key logical and mnemonic devices. These include the three alchemical principles (material, demonstrative and operative), the division of the opus in four stages, the so-called ‘science of middles and extremes’, and an alphabetical wheel of the elements. Through this analysis, the Codicillus emerges as a remarkable instance of operational rationality in medieval experimental science, as well as an early application of the ‘Art of Memory’ to alchemy.
Keywords: pseudo-Lullian corpus; Codicillus; alchemical diagrams; Medieval experimental sciences; Art of Memory; operative rationality; Rota alphabetalis; diagrammatics; ars combinatoria.
DOI: 10.14640/QuadernidiNoctua8-8
Collana / Book series: Quaderni di Noctua
Volume: 8
Pagine / Pages: 173-195
Pubblicazione / Publication date: 20/06/2025
Permalink: https://dx.doi.org/10.14640/QuadernidiNoctua8-8
E-theca OnLineOpenAccess Edizioni – Università degli Studi di Torino
ISSN 2723-9225