Replying to Avatar jakub

I’m a computer scientist and I definitely don’t consider it magic; because I understand it.
Avatar
Leo Fernevak 2y ago

Agreed.

Technology is not magic in the supernatural sense.

Though, there are some interesting parallels between programming and historical conceptions of magic.

A spell is a written code that must written or spoken exactly to the letter, or it won't work. In magic, you are supposedly compelling unseen entities to carry out your commands. Some magical spells have instructions of going around in a circle a number of times, similar to what a loop does in programming. We even use some terminology from magic in programming, such as Invoke in C#.

Reply to this note

Please Login to reply.

Discussion

Avatar
jakub 2y ago

The biggest difference is magic, in the fictional sense, is conjured up via tokens, books, or words. But, the effects of said spells cannot be necessarily understood or explained by scientific means. It usually comes down to an earthly force or something spiritual, otherworldly or Interdimensional.

Avatar
Leo Fernevak 2y ago

Absolutely, that is the traditional definition of magic that we generally mean by the term.

Then there is a newer definition of magic: to cause change in accordance with one's will.

These are naturally two completely different definitions and I agree with you that without clarification we should assume the traditional definition that involves superstition.

Though, the two different definitions aside, the ethical distinctions of black magic vs white magic are still relevant if we make parallels to today's society.

Black magic, could in its ethos be defined as any enforced protocol (think restraint of free agency) that disregards informed, voluntary consent and thereby removes individual sovereignty.

In this light, we can view CBDC's, fiat money and social credit scores from the lens of the black magic ethos: they are based on force, pressure and compulsion, designed to carry out a political agenda while disregarding voluntary, informed consent and sovereign decisionmaking.