Georg Ernst Stahl’s Phlogiston Theory
Georg Ernst Stahl was a German physician, chemist, and professor born in Ansbach who exerted a major influence on 18th-century chemical thought. Teaching at the University of Halle, he systemized the "phlogiston theory" to explain the mechanisms of combustion, oxidation, and the alteration of metals, which dominated chemical philosophy until Lavoisier. In medicine, Stahl developed vitalism through his concept of "anima," arguing that a living soul directs physical physiological processes and emphasizing mind-body interactions. As court physician to King Frederick William I of Prussia, he also played a key role in structuring public health administration in Berlin.
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