What Defines Dark Magic?

[jodel at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 53565

Psy asks us:

>>Can Dark Magics be used for good?  Or is it inherently evil?  One would 
think that with one of the overall themes of the books being how you use what 
you have, I would think that you could use them for good, but that doesn't 
seem to be the case.  There are certainly "good" spells that could be put to 
evil use if the practitioner has an evil mind, so why not the other way 
around?  Where is the line drawn? <<

I have a MOPPeT that Dark and Light magic are two different procedures by 
which magical energy may be channeled. The distinction between the two only 
came about after Light magic was developed from its Dark magic roots. ("Dark" 
magic was refered to by that name afterwards in association with such things 
as the "Dark Ages".) 

The problem with Dark magic is that it uses the user and eats away at his 
personality over long, or cumulative, exposures. (Note: this is not 
specifically a corruption into evil - although that particular form of the 
result has been amply documented.) This deterioration progresses in the form 
of an erosion of the affected wizard's basic "humanity". Ultimately he is 
unable to relate to other humans as members of his own species and cannot 
recognize that they have any more existence beyond that of impediments to be 
brushed asside. He sees them as "creatures" rather than as "beings".

Light magic is a much safer procedure to use, since it does not directly 
damage the user, when properly deployed. But Light magic is limited by the 
level of magical "conductivity" the wizard channeling it is born with, while 
under the older, Dark, process any level of conductivity at all allows the 
user to access to the full Power of Magic itself. Channeling this much magic 
is likely to have fatal consequences, but in extreme circumstances, such a 
sacrifice may be considered acceptable. Dark magic is exceedingly perilous, 
but it is not inherently evil. And, after all, Light magic was developed from 
it, and it continues to be a source for continuing modern-day magical 
research. As such it cannot be completely eliminated. But its practice must 
be rigorously controled, and the Ministry can certainly refuse to sanction 
teaching its methods to the young. That they are openly taught at Durmstrang 
illustrates that this is not a universally held opinion. It also offers a 
strong arguement in favor of the view that the Dark Arts remain a recognized 
and valuable branch of Magical study.

I am working on a series of essays on my own views of a possible "History of 
Magic" in the Poterverse ultimately to be posted on my own site. But if 
people wish I could run it through here as well (I don't *think* it would be 
too long to be posted in e-mail, but it might need to be split into sections.)

Despite the fact that my own theories on this may seem to be comming out of 
left field, I haven't yet turned up anything in canon which absolutely 
contradicts it. OotP may throw it all into a cocked hat, though. But those 
are the risks one takes.

-JOdel