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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rechan" data-source="post: 4829967" data-attributes="member: 54846">Ah.Well one possibility is that the speaker assumes that science would halt because magic can DO what science is needed to do. Observational science developed because there was no answer beyond superstition, and technology developed because a better way was sought to address the issue. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. But if magic answers the necessity, then why push past it? Why bother with mundane answers when there's an easy magical fix? Would man have bothered to burn coal if there was nuclear power back then? That addresses tech.A lot of science was created due to the scientists not believing in the superstitious answers. Storms weren't caused by God's punishment, or whatever explanation was given. But in a world where the supernatural exists, and they DO cause things to happen, then there would be less of a reason to doubt the given explanations. With less doubt, you get fewer questions. Fewer questions, fewer desire for answers.Also, there's issues of logistics. You have fewer people pursuing science because those smart and curious people are likely becoming wizards. The person who wants to heal the sick will likely become someone who uses healing magic. Those wizards and healers are busy exploring and asking questions about the nature of magic. So the number of people who do NOT use those available routes are fewer and far between, thus slowing down the progression of science. Another point is that in fantasy, you often do have some level of science. Alchemy is basically one part chemistry, one part magic. Everyone excepts Dwarves as engineers and architects, so I imagine they do have some engineering and physics training existing. I imagine that, in a fantasy world, mathematics and physics do exist and are taught/studied.Finally, some people simply do not want science in their fantasy. For instance, I want no part of genes, germs or atoms in my fantasy. An eclipse is not the shadow of one planet passing over the sun or the moon, it's literally an ill omen or a God causing it. Diseases are caused by curses, proximity to evil things, evil forces at work, karma, or other "fantasy" causes for scientific things. Don't get me started on "fighting above a pit of lava". So it's an issue of taste in terms of the Real World in fantasy.</blockquote>

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