[HPforGrownups] Dark Magic

[manawydan]

No: HPFGUIDX 53561

Psy wrote:

>I was just thinking.  Dark Magic is always hailed as being evil and
>wrong.  However, who decides what is Dark and what isn't?  Curses,
>one would think, would all be considered Dark Magic.  However, many
>of them are not.  There are only three curses we know of that are

Possibly the answer to that is "the Ministry decides". As those of us who've
tried spellwork IRL know well, there can be all sorts of unforeseen
consequences, and it's not as simple as saying that the type of spell is
"inherently evil" (because it might bring about unintended good) or that the
converse is true (because it might bring about unintended bad).

Frankly I can't see any positive purpose in the cruciatus, but the imperius
could certainly be used for defensive as well as hostile purposes (suppose a
wizard was being attacked by a group of muggles, for example), and we know
that the AK was used by both sides during Voldemort's outbreak.

>Durmstrang has a stigma about teaching it's students Dark Magic.  Are
>they wrong to do this, or are they just letting the young wizards see
>more options?

Don't think they're wrong, provided it's taught with the right ethical
context. Maybe the Ministry in whatever country Drumstrang lies (Samiland
perhaps, from the climate) is less strict than the one over here. Or maybe
Karkaroff and his predecessors have more autonomy to decide for themselves
what to teach.

Cheers

Ffred

O Benryn wleth hyd Luch Reon
Cymru yn unfryd gerhyd Wrion
Gwret dy Cymry yghymeiri