Thread: Outrage?
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Old 06-21-2005, 09:19 AM   #94
the guy who be short
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Quote:
I object to the HP books because their depiction of the world is utterly materialist. There is no real 'magic' in the books insofar as the spells and potions all have purely rationalist explanations.
The magic in HP can only be described as magic, not an extension of scientific knowledge. Waving a wand and muttering a few words generally doesn't cause much effect, other than to attract a few odd looks. There is no real rationale behind the magic that I can see.

Quote:
The place in M-E where we find a Harry Potter view of magic is in Isengard, where Saruman is trying to develop technologies with which to control the power of nature.
Saruman's pursuit of technology cannot really be seen as a pursuit of magical knowledge, unless we class technology as magic. The way in which Saruman industrialises with no care for the environment demonstrates Tolkien's anti-industrialisation stance rather than a dislike of magicks.
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