Magic & Electricity (was Wizard supremacy )

[kjirstem]

No: HPFGUIDX 125978


Instead of continuing on Wizard Supremacy I thought I'd head off
on a tangent, which is really on the nature of Magic.  Obviously 
been discussed thousands of times and so there isn't much new in 
this post. There are several good essays over at the Lexicon, my own
views are close to those of Mark B. Hammer (PrefectMarcus) in
"When Magic Meets Muggle Technology".  Anyway, thought
I'd put this up since the mental model one has for Magic affects 
the conclusions one reaches in discussions like the recent one on
Wizard Supremacy.  I made the statement in that discussion that
wizards could be considered "electro-magnetically handicapped", 
this post is meant to be an explanation of my reasoning. 

Magic makes things happen.  One interpretation of how is that Magic 
is intention/thought/will/imagination made real, another is that it 
is a form of energy.  I'm inclined toward the interpretation that
Magic is form of energy.  One example of why I don't think Magic
involves only thought or intention is the events during Harry's 
wand selection. He has no idea what to expect and no apparent 
intent to produce sparks from the wand, yet it happens.  

If Magic is a form of energy then it is either: 
a)	a form of energy that is unknown in our world 
b)	a different way of using known types of energy

Possibly either a or b can be supported by canon but I find it a lot
easier to think of Magic as a form of energy that is unknown to us. 

A few points from the books that I think provide relevant information
about Magical energy:

1.  There are various references to devices not working around
Hogwarts, especially this one from Hermione (whose info is from
"Hogwarts, A History")(P 548 GOF, USHB) "All those
substitutes for magic Muggles use – electricity, computers, and 
radar, and all those things -- they all go haywire around Hogwarts,
there's too much magic in the air."

2.  FB&WtFT p 5: Chizpurfles will attack electrical objects from 
within in the absence of magic.

3. Some devices work around Magic and some do not:
 - Watches – work (unless immersed too long, apparently)
 - Cameras – work using Magic instead of battery power (per 
website). (Film-based camera, not digital)
 - Ford Anglia – works using Magic ( My interpretation is 
that its electrical systems failed as it came close to Hogwarts.  
It switched to using magical energy just soon enough to keep Harry 
and Ron from being pummeled to death.)
 - Radios – there is a wizarding equivalent, not clear whether
Muggle radios will work in WW.
 - Lights: WW seems to use fire or wand light
 - General absence of most electrical devices in the WW.

4. Spells are frequently associated with a flash of light.

5. Although there is light associated with many spells, the spells
themselves don't appear to travel at the speed of light.  If they
did, there would be no way for someone to deflect a spell without
acting prior to hearing the spell.

6. Muggles can clearly be affected by magical energy – they can be
killed, they can be levitated (both GOF), they can get in trouble 
with be-spelled devices.  


Many of these points from the books seem to me to imply a 
relationship between Magic and electrical and magnetic forces. 
We're told through Hermione (point 1 above) that Magic can disrupt
electro-magnetic fields; by symmetry I expect the reverse, 
disruption of Magic by electro-magnetic forces, to be possible as
well.  

Given this, there is probably a continuum of Muggle technology from
that which can always be used around Magic to that which can never be
used around Magic.  The number of magic users and the extent of their
use of magic will determine what Muggle technology (at least of the
electro-magnetic type) can be used in a given area.  

Wizarding children aren't yet trained in the use of Magic.  They
have some innate ability but probably don't generate the same
amount of disruption in electro-magnetic fields as adult Magic 
users.  So, as long as Harry wasn't doing accidental magic he
could probably use all the normal Muggle devices.  Just the same, 
I don't recall Harry ever actually getting his hands on
Dudley's computer or Playstation.  

The separation of wizards from the Muggle world seems to me to imply
that they don't learn much in the way of math and science.  Even
those from Muggle families more or less leave the Muggle world at 
age 11 and the math most kids know at that age is not very advanced. 
Some education in physics may take place in Muggle studies but it is
hard to tell if this is so.    

The arguments I've made above are the reason I have said that Magic
users could be considered "electro-magnetically handicapped".
By this I meant both:

1) Their use of Magic limits their ability to use electrical or
magnetic devices. 

2) They do not appear to pursue knowledge of electricity & magnetism.


A group in the Potterverse that could integrate understanding of
magical and electro-magnetic forces might be able control both. 
Whichever group that is would almost certainly be the most powerful. 


kjirstem - if anyone actually read this far