Science of Magic (was Re: The Statute of Secrecy_

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 159623

bboyminn wrote:
> 
> I've always said that magic is just science we haven't 
> discovered yet. I also think the central general public
> would probably react well, OK moderately well, but it 
> is not the general public we have to worry about, it is
> those 'off-center'.
><snip>
> So, while I can speculate perfectly logical reasons why
> magic could exist and why its knowledge would be 
> infinitely valuable to modern science, I really fear the
> social and psychologial aspects of it. I still claim that
> those with financial, political, military, religious, and
> moral power and wealth would fight to control or attempt
> to destroy magic if it were discovered in our modern 
> world. 
> 
> Further, those with finacial, political, military, 
> religious, and moral power and wealth also have tremendous
> influence over the sheep that follow them. If religious
> fanatics can rally so much support against a quaint book
> of fiction, I shutter at their reaction to it being real.
> 
> Chaos I tell you, chaos; social upheaval and riots in the
> streets. I know it is a sad thought, a sad commentary on 
> human existance, and hopelessly pessimistic, but I think
> to deny it is naive. <snip>
> 
Carol responds:
Without getting into the scientific aspect of what makes magic work
(and JKR is as much of a scientist as I am, meaning none at all), I
think the point is that some people are born with magical ability and
some aren't. It can't be acquired: it's in the blood. So Wizards can
live without modern technology or imitate it without (much) cost to
themselves (e.g., fire without fuel, "wireless" without electricity)
and with no harm to the environment (no fossil fuels or atom
splitting, for example). Unfortunately, these options aren't available
to Muggles.

I'm not sure about riots in the streets, but I'm certain that if
Muggles discovered that magic really existed it would do them no good
at all. JKR has said that Muggles can't use wands, cast spells, or
even brew potions. I disagree that magic is science that hasn't been
discovered yet; I think it's something else altogether, a form of
power that's forever denied to any Muggle. Some Muggles might be happy
to discover that a relative or wife or husband had such a power (think
of the money you'd save on electricity if that power could be used
undetected), but many others would be envious of such "unnatural" powers.

Could a witch or wizard live comfortably among neighbors who knew of
his or her powers? Probably not, even if his or her safety was not in
question. And mass hysteria does occur even in advanced civilizations.
I can see why the Wizards want to live undisturbed and undetected,
with their own values (however politically incorrect) and customs and
traditions, even if there's no danger of persecution, effectual or
otherwise in our supposedly enlightened times.

Carol, who feels that she's mixed two topics in this post and hopes
that her message isn't hopelessly jumbled