Tria prima, doctrine

In one particular, however, Paracelsus contributed a theoretical concept which exerted a dominating influence on the theory of following centuries. This was the doctrine known as the tria prima, the idea that all matter from... 

Paracelsus (Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombast von Hohenheim) develops new study of iatrochemistiy, use of chemistry in medicine. He introduces the doctrine of the tria prima medical substances are made up of the four Aristotelian elements. 

This was already the case in the sixteenth century, as we can see from the attack on Paracelsus mounted by Thomas Erastus and the defence put forward by Richard Bostocke. Both writers devoted much space to judging the agreement or disagreement of Paracelsus s doctrines with the creation story. A particular point at issue was whether Paracelsus s belief in prime matter and the tria prima contradicted the first words of the Bible, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1.1). Erastus held ... 

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