Answer 1:
That's a great question. I am not quite certain
what you mean by the language of magic, but I will
do my best to answer your question.
Magic is a complicated concept, because it can
been seen as a cultural system to understand and
predict the unknown and possibly, the unknowable.
Sometimes, western scientific ideas or concepts
can be in conflict with ways of knowing that might
be considered under the auspices of magic, for
example, certain medicinal cures. However, many
aspects of western scientific knowledge (e.g.
chemicals now used as medicines) that are
currently recognized as facts or accepted
practices stemmed from a tradition of alchemy,
which would be considered belief in magic by
modern western standards.
The western scientific tradition is based on
the concept of being able to generate and
investigate testable (falsifiable) hypotheses. In
contrast, magic hinges on the notion that a person
(or entity) has magical power can produce a
desired effect on others and/or natural or social
processes through the use of rituals, ceremony,
spells, or other techniques. Natural processes or
natural states can in themselves also be
considered magic by certain groups (e.g.
astrological thinking). Although magic and science
are different, these knowledge systems can draw
from each other (e.g. like religion and
mythology).
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