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What is arcane magic?
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<blockquote data-quote="ourchair" data-source="post: 5370518" data-attributes="member: 85362"><p>I've noticed that the problem that most people (not myself) have with the idea that arcane magic is science is the fact that it's tangible representation within a fictional world, doesn't actually resemble anything scientific/empirical we know of.</p><p></p><p>And that's regardless of whether or not you subscribe to the idea that magic can at some point become indistinguishable from science and vice versa.</p><p></p><p>In any case, Edward Elric will always refer to his alchemy as a 'science' despite the fact that its physics are kind of wonky and involve conjuring melee weapons from the earth and Dresden Files shows a systematized body of knowledge that does things we can't conceive of.</p><p></p><p>But as far as I'm concerned the tangible manifestation of magic -- whether it's Dungeons & Dragons, Fullmetal Alchemist or Dresden Files -- is actually irrelevant as to whether or not it IS a science. What things look like IN the world are not necessarily the same as what they ARE. </p><p></p><p>So, to my mind, if magic can be studied, analyzed and its effects reproducible and can be taught to others, then it IS a science. It does have laws and a degree of empiricism. Sure, it's not OUR science here where we live, but it's A science.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ourchair, post: 5370518, member: 85362"] I've noticed that the problem that most people (not myself) have with the idea that arcane magic is science is the fact that it's tangible representation within a fictional world, doesn't actually resemble anything scientific/empirical we know of. And that's regardless of whether or not you subscribe to the idea that magic can at some point become indistinguishable from science and vice versa. In any case, Edward Elric will always refer to his alchemy as a 'science' despite the fact that its physics are kind of wonky and involve conjuring melee weapons from the earth and Dresden Files shows a systematized body of knowledge that does things we can't conceive of. But as far as I'm concerned the tangible manifestation of magic -- whether it's Dungeons & Dragons, Fullmetal Alchemist or Dresden Files -- is actually irrelevant as to whether or not it IS a science. What things look like IN the world are not necessarily the same as what they ARE. So, to my mind, if magic can be studied, analyzed and its effects reproducible and can be taught to others, then it IS a science. It does have laws and a degree of empiricism. Sure, it's not OUR science here where we live, but it's A science. [/QUOTE]
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