Re: Magic vs Science

>In a message dated 12/31/98 1:33:58 AM Central Standard Time,
>westermeyer.3@???.edu writes:
>
>WARNING a bit long and i was sleepy i may have rambled but i have a good point
><< Regardless, there is a point, a starting line where science fails.
> Considering the limits of our science it makes sense that we should, at
> this point in development, assume that all that is unknown is science, just
> as at an earlier point we assumed all that was unknown is magic.  They
> simply are not the same, anymore then Sprite and Seven-up are the same
> because they look alike in a clear glass.:) >>
>
>there was a book i read (I read alot and don't rember the title) there are
>forces that the universe runs on the strong and weak atomic force
>electromagnetic force and a few others i don't rember the hole thing and all
>the forces listed but the primise of the book was that during the big bang the
>laws of physics (speed of Light Value of PI as an irational number etc) were
>set and the forces formed of divstion of the 1 starting force the super force
>wich lead to the expanding energy to organize as matter (matter being energy
>bonded into a complex format of particals which can be released back in to a
>more unrestrained and more basic form (aka E=MC2)) however if one truly
>understood the nature of all the forces and of the energy matter relation
>(wich the off quoted formula is merly the icebergs tip) then the super force
>could be manipulated as the superforce can infulance and change the
>interactions between the lesser forces and alter the relation of matter to
>energy the Super force could alter the physical laws of the universe varrying
>from slight bendings to totaly "breaking" the known physical laws as i
>understand it most (i may be wrong my reading in science varrys from the main
>stream to the wildly speculative and i can't rember the titel to check wich
>this was) therotical quatim physics that Sci-fi writers use to defivy the laws
>of physics either use superforce maniplation to bend physics (warp travel ) or
>travel to a paralle universe where the superforce divided up in a slightly
>differant way and thus the physical laws are not the same as ours (Hyperspace)
>	i am sure some of you are asking What this has to do with Magic or
>spelljammer IMC there are differance universes with differances in there
>physical laws magic and science are not the same and i use mana to be the
>force of magic wich is shaped by will to cause effects that are visualised if
>you have the skill to visualise the result and can harness enuff mana you can
>so any thing sceice can not say ecaclty how mana works but can by obervation
>note it's effects wich is to say mana is one of the forces that makes up the
>superforce and can in quinity alter the superforce thusly altering the
>physical laws of the universe they can not explane the why but the how
>magicians can feel the why but most don't care about the how it just works but
>they have a common frame of referance and can work together
>	i don't have any game mechanic on this this is just what i use as
>the back
>drop for how magic and Sceince can work together when i choose to have both in
>1 campain and have them interact magic is still a mystery the how of Mana
>manipulating the superforce is not understood not the how of shapeing it by
>will or the why of mana behavoir Low and High mana zones (in AD&D no magic and
>wild magic zones are quite simular in concept) form for no known reason mana
>seems to do things for no reason but scieance can do what it is good at
>observe and learn to use and aply that which is seen a magical fire if it can
>be contained in a cilinder can run a inturnal combustion engine if a mage can
>picture it well enuff magic can bend the laws of physics to alow as ship to go
>to warp speed

This reminds of a set of two or three books in which each universe has six
Laws.  No two laws are exactly the same but many are very similar.  A
creature using some sort of Meta Law was able to exchange a law in one
universe with a law from another universe, sending everyone familiar with
those laws into stress as their system no longer functioned precicely as
they were taught.  I can not find these books, but I am reasonably certain
that the first book in the series was called "Master of the Five Magics".
If I could locate these books (they are on one of these shelves, I am
certain that I never discarded them) I could give the author, too.