18th April 2005, 2:44 PM
Quote:Look ABF, I don't care at this point. Now that I know those "laws" are just the ramblings of some sci-fi author I really don't care. There's no point debating something that has no proof. Some cultures might, some might not. And besides, if it's not 100% accurate, it can't be a law.
You're disagreeing with something you've admitted is true within the limits that the law covers, you know. :)
Quote:But I'm sure that magic is not just mere 'magic'. There is likely a physical explanation for its workings. The magic of Robert Jordan's universe is explained almost in a scientific way and is never referred to as magic.
Yes, it does. All good magic systems should work this way, because that's what "magic" is... like Feist's stuff too, where magic and science are essentially one... everyone calls it magic, except for the two or three people who actually understand how it works. They know it's... stuff. :D
Quote:Oh yeah, I really wish Star Wars didn't try to scientifically explain the force. Stupid medichlorines or whatever... Leave it unexplained! It's not magic if it's explained!
Absolutely not! It definitely was a good thing to explain it... I don't like them leaving it as some kind of mystical force. I'd rather get an explanation. Like sound in space -- it was eventually explained in the books as 'sound generators in the ships', and that was a good thing. Midichlorions are a good explanation for the force, and are still suitably mystical to make religious types happy... (I mean, that little organism can do all that? :))
Why would it be a good thing to have no explanation for how magic works? "Magic" is an illogical idea! To have this 'magic' make sense you must explain it. Jordan and Feist do that just about perfectly: this is clearly not something possible in this world, but the rules of their universes are different and these things are possible there under the specific laws they outline. As it should be.