Rhazes and Paracelsus: "The Connection Between Islamic Alchemy and Early Modern European Medicine
Tārīkh-i pizishkī i.e., Medical History,
Vol. 18 (1405),
4 April 2026
,
Page 1-12
https://doi.org/10.22037/mhj.v18i.50836
Abstract
Background and Aim: The connection between Razi's medical and alchemical ideas and the formation of chemical medicine in Paracelsus’ works, as well as the role of Latin translations of Razi's works and the reinterpretation of his views within the intellectual context of the European Renaissance, are among the important issues that have rarely been studied in a systematic manner. The present study, through a comparative analysis of selected texts by Razi and Paracelsus, seeks to explain how the Islamic medical heritage was transmitted and transformed during the transition to modern European medicine. The main focus is on examining the foundations of empiricism, the practical approach to treatment and ethical considerations in Razi's thought and their reflection in the formation of Paracelsian medicine, as well as the importance of studying these aspects in reassessing the place of Islamic civilization in the history of science and highlighting Razi's role as a bridge between Islamic alchemy and the chemical medicine of the European Renaissance.
Methods: The research method is historical, comparative textual analysis and qualitative examination of the content of al-Razi’s and Paracelsus works.
Ethical Considerations: In this research, the principles of trustworthiness, honesty in citing sources and avoidance of bias were observed.
Results: According to the research findings, by emphasizing systematic empiricism, clinical observation and the critique of traditional authority, Razi established a methodological model in practical medicine that was transmitted to Europe through Latin translations and influenced Renaissance medicine. The study of Paracelsus's works also shows that his chemical medicine is based on the primacy of experience, the use of chemical substances in treatment and the empirical evaluation of clinical results. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the texts indicates a significant overlap between Razi's method and Paracelsus's approach, as well as the continuation of components of Islamic empiricism within the epistemological and clinical structure of European Renaissance medicine.
Conclusion: The results indicate that Razi's scientific and empirical legacy played a fundamental role in the transformation of Renaissance medicine and the development of Paracelsus's chemical medicine. The comparative analysis of the texts also reveals that principles such as precise observation, clinical empiricism, criticism of the authority of the Greek tradition, and the integration of ethics with treatment are reflected in Paracelsus’ works and reproduced within a new framework. The findings confirm that the transmission of Islamic medicine through Latin translations was not limited to the transfer of theoretical concepts; rather, it played a decisive role in shaping the methodological structure of empirical medicine in Europe and laid the groundwork for the emergence of a human-centered and chemistry-centered approach in modern medicine.
- Rhazes
- Paracelsus
- Renaissance
- Islamic alchemy
- Clinical empiricism
How to Cite
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