How to define "magic" (was Re: Fantasy relativity)

Tentative idea of a definition of "magic.

Let's say that in the DnD prime material we can safely assume the following
physical principles for Muggle (non-magical for non-Harry-Potter-lovers)
bodies and phenomena.

1.Principle of causality (an event can only be influenced by another event
if they lie in the same tetra-cone of light or "information").
2.Principle of universality (laws of physics are the same always and
everywhere).
3.Principle of action and reaction (conservation of momentum).
4 and 5.1st and 2nd principle of thermodynamics (1st is conservation of
energy, 2nd states that enthropy (chaos) always increases, so phenomena
cannot be entirely reversible).

We could then define as magic anything that violates these principles.


Silmacar Halfelven
Captain of the Guards of Cardolan

"Since this Galaxy began, vast civilizations have risen and fallen, risen
and fallen, risen and fallen so often that it's quite tempting to think that
life in the Galaxy must be
a) something akin to seasick - space-sick, time sick, history sick or some
such thing, and
b) stupid."



_________________________________________________________________
Scarica GRATUITAMENTE MSN Explorer all'indirizzo
http://explorer.msn.it/intl.asp