Magic... is Unnatural

One of the predicates of the arguments made in the other articles on magic is that, in the world of the story in which magic appears, the “magic” is a more or less natural phenomenon. While the “…means apparently unrelated to [the] ends…” which constitute the magic are apparently unrelated from our point view, they are, in fictional fact, related. Even a freshman student just on their way to Hogwarts can learn that saying “oculus reparo” and waving a particular stick will repair glasses. Harry is surprised because he’s lived with muggles his whole life. But it doesn’t surprise Hermione or anyone else in the “wizarding world”. It is the common way of fixing glasses it would seem, and simply “the way things are”; just like heating up bread in the real world makes it into toast.

Magic... is Power

So in part 1, we discussed the human sense of wonder as an aspect of our attraction to “magic”.  Today we will discuss something else universally attractive to humans: power!

Power is simply the ability to act. The desire for it is so obvious and universal that those who encourage us to act morally warn us against seeking it (for itself, for the wrong reasons, etc.) apparently without ever even considering that it might not be attractive. They do this with good reason, because it is attractive, and important, and dangerous.

What do these arcane runes mean?(1)

Consider every possession of yours and everything you've ever learned. I’m confident that most (if not ALL) of those

Magic... is Wonderful

If someone was talking to you casually and they said that some character in a relatively recent book, comic, game, or movie used “magic”, what would you think you know about that character, without any further information? I don’t think you’d know any more than this: said character uses means apparently unrelated to his ends to achieve them. In addition,

Magic...

those ends may be impossible under conventional circumstances. Really, that’s it; after the countless fictional worlds containing countless variations on the theme, that is the dry and general, basic understanding of magic we are left with. Does the character make grim bargains with other-worldly spirits? Does the character tap into an invisible force and bend it to his will? Is there no explanation whatsoever? To know that, knowing it was “magic” isn't enough.