The Sceptical Chymist, published by Robert Boyle in 1661, is a landmark in the history of science. Cast as a dialogue, it challenges the prevailing Aristotelian and alchemical theories of the elements, questioning the doctrines of the four elements and the three “principles” of the spagyrists. Boyle insists that claims be grounded in careful experiment.
By demanding rigorous evidence and a corpuscular view of matter, the book helped move chemistry away from alchemy toward an experimental science. It established Boyle as a leading figure of the Scientific Revolution. This free EPUB edition presents the complete text for readers interested in the early history of chemistry and seventeenth-century natural philosophy.