On 11 Mar 98 -itlon at 14:12 -itlon, Jp dr AMP said-itlon:

No, magic doesn't inhibit technology, this is proven by a very simple 
thing.  If there is a force (IE fire) that will act a certain way every 
time you do something just so (drop gasoline one it)... then it is a new 
invention (naptha).  So therefore... Magic does not inhibit 
technology... it IS technology.  The onlly way that this would not work, 

Except magic is NOT a tool, it is simply another manifestation of human 
dexterity capable of fielding a wide range of other tools.  Let's consider 
the following illustration.

(snip)

That all depends the take on magic. In some cases it's just a manifestation of
human abilities, like psionics most people can't use it.

However, Magic could just be an application of skill. Like developing/using
technology, theoretically ANYONE can do it. When you get right down to it,
technology is NOT all the wonderful inventions we use day to day. It's the
application of intellect to do certain things using the forces available from
the world around us.

All right; let's approach it this way.

First, you assert two things: 

A) magic is similar to a physical force, ergo it's related to physical forces 
under a higher umbrella.

B) people can use forces as tools (I never claimed that a "tool" is limited 
   to a material object.  In fact, the most ingenious tools humanity has
   ever derived comes from the structures of communication (like speech, 
   various methods of writing and inscribing, arrangements of hands and
   fingers to form coherent patterns), made possible by language (which is 
   NOT a tool, but a set of rules which the tools of communications
   are obliged to obey).

A force of nature is just that, a force of nature; and forces can be tapped 
either as an inherent characteristic of an organism to manipulate its
environment (force interaction between feet and a surface while walking, the 
forces involved in providing the kinetic energy--ergo, thermal energy--to 
effect chemical transformation into foodstuffs into ATP), or through an 
extension of an organisms natural capacity (simply, a tool) to do likewise.

Whether inherent to a being or a tool, magic--if thought of as a force--does 
NOT fit under the category of "technology;" as properly defined, its not an 
application of intellect, its a medium through which the capacity for 
application is realized.

If you add another force, one that is not defined by modern science (magic)
then it follows that people will intellectually figure out how to manipulate
that force.

End result is essentially the same as what YOU are saying, except that magic
is just another manifestation of science and (ergo) technology.

See above.

-The Reverend Prez
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