The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c4.s1.t2.58

c4.s1.t2.58

*Chemical Analysis and Synthesis—Elements and Compounds.*—What, then, is the equivalent in the Sánkhya-Pátañjala of the distinction between a chemical element and a chemical compound, or is there none? Did or did not this physical analysis and classification of things lead on to a classification based on chemical analysis and chemical synthesis? These are questions of singular interest, the answer to which will disclose some new points of view from which the ancient Hindu thinkers approached the problems.