Why magic works (was Re: A random question regarding owl post)

[Sam Brown]

No: HPFGUIDX 3092

Steve wrote:
> (Magic) works because it's INTENDED to work. 

This, I feel, is a very good point. Lately I've been thinking about 
Potions, and their origins. How did people discover that this much 
Boomslang and this many lacewings stewed for this long make Polyjuice 
Potions? The origins of potions seem to be impossible. My theory is 
that the potions don't work the way they do because of their 
ingredients. They work the way they do because, as Steve said, it's 
the 
way they're intended to work. If memory serves, this idea is 
addressed 
frequently in Terry Pratchett's Discworld canon (excellent series, 
give them a read if you haven't). TP's basic idea is that magic works 
in the way it does because people believe it will, and all 
the 'extras' - in the case of Polyjuice Potion, the boomslang and 
lacewings - are only there for effect. You could probably use mud and 
a few sticks, but if you believed it would work in the same manner as 
Polyjuice Potion, it probably would... I mean, it's MAGIC! It can do 
(nearly) anything!

Anyway this has all gotten a little OT but I think that fact that 
magic works simply because it's intended to is a very interesting 
one.