Magic? Science or Art

[Zer0 Kay]

In another post..."Can one teleport into an environmentally sealed vehicle?" there is an disagrement on weather or not magic is a science or an art. My choice was based off of the following definitions:

Art-
1. The human effort to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature.
2.
A. A system of principles and methods employed in the performance of a set of activities: the art of building.
B. A trade or craft that applies such a system of principles and methods: the art of the lexicographer.
C. Skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation: the art of the baker; the blacksmith's art.

Science-
1.
A. The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena.
B. Such activities restricted to a class of natural phenomena.
C. Such activities applied to an object of inquiry or study.
2. Methodological activity, discipline, or study.

I think that magic is more art than science.

[Vrykolas2k]

Personally, I'd say it falls under both very well, but leans to art a bit more... still, it would be problematic at best to research spells were som mothodology and scientific approach not involved.

[Athos]

I would say it is quite a bit like programming. Natural ability can take you quite a ways, but at a certain point you have to apply some discipline to advance further.

[Jason Richards]

It's a science simply because P.P.E. is a naturally-occurring form of energy that is simply harnassed and put to use. Granted, there is some art involved, some "intangibles", but that's true of all science (because there is no such thing as an "exact science"). Mantras and ceremony and all of that are simply artistic ways of performing the science.

[RoadWarriorFWaNK]

well that's a very analytical and sterile definition of art.

REAL art is about self-expression and the communication of thoughts, ideas, and emotions.

taken in this context, magic is a science. magic is the manipulation of natural energy. Hell, many of the things we have explained through science used to be thought of as magic. We used to throw rocks at the moon and do dances to make it rain.

[grandmaster z0b]

It's seems to be both, but don't get too bogged down in a somantic argument, it won't prove anything except that some dictionaries contain different entries and descriptions for the same word.

Answer me this, is blacksmithing an art or a science? In the above definition it's refered to as an art, yet metalurgy is clearly a science.

I think that magic is exactly the same, your local smithy may do things in archaic ways and might not understand the cystaline structure or steel, but he can still create great things from metal, whilst a metalurgist would have a much greater understanding but they still both do the fundamentally same thing - make things from metal. In a similar way your local magician may lick toads or hang goose spleens around his neck, and a lorg magus would understand the frequencies and flow of PPE, they can both still cast spells, one has a greater understanding but they both can still use magic.

[Josh Sinsapaugh]

Art.


But as an Art Major, I must caution people on trying to define exactly what art is.

You will just create headaches for your self.

[RoadWarriorFWaNK]

I've been involved in doing art most of my life, so please don't tell me what it's is and isn't about.

I wasn't talking to you. I was talking about Zero Kay's definition of art.

[Temporalmage]

I believe it's composed of both. But the majority would be artistic in nature. Like all forms of art, it can be taught, mastered, and even expanded upon. It's more of an art than a science, otherwise why havnt' the CS been more succesfull in studying it? Besides, what's more artistic than ripping the very fabric of time and space itself?? Something that is a feat only magic itself can accomplish.

[Dead Boy]

I'd call it more of a science, still in its crude stages where so much is still unknown, but the general cause and effect is still applicable, even if its users are still up in the air on the "why". Even so, magic and can be refined and improved upon in time as understanding slowly improves, or even if understandin doesn't improve all that much. In that regard, magic is much more similar to the evolution of tech than that of art, which is much more subjective on what "improvment" even really is.