The Philosophers Stone

[MisterM]

I always found this an odd title for the first book because... Is flamel actually a philosopher? I thought he was an alchemist??

Anyway, The title was changed to Sorcerer for the US audience or whatever, but I think that title actually makes more sense. Or at least call it 'the Alchemist's stone.'

[bear]

rowling didn't make up the concept or the name you Dumb Ass.

[Hermes]

To give this slightly more context: traditionally 'philosopher' covered anyone who inquires into the nature of things, including natural philosophers, i.e. what we would call scientists; and alchemy is a primitive kind of science. (This use survives in 'Doctor of Philosophy', which is a research degree in any area, not just in philosophy in the modern sense.)

[Anka]

The German translation literally means the wise people's stone, which makes more sense to me.