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Magic and Science: A Natural Philosophy of the World (1) Nowadays, the scientific progress has reached such an extent that magical concepts are being increasingly integrated into scientific theories, even though that as recent as hundred years ago, people considered science and magic as diametrically opposite, in their essence. The scientific process is based on the principle of gaining new knowledge. Formula experiment-theory-practice can be equally applied to just about any scientific discipline. At first, people were able to notice a certain pattern in how nature expresses itself.
Then, scientists try to refine this pattern in pure form, by conducting series of experiments. As a result, they are able to construct a scientific theory. Therefore, we can say that science is essentially an accumulation of knowledge, which allows people to adjust the surrounding reality to their own needs. However, it is very rarely that our scientific knowledge is based on complete understanding of the essence of this knowledge. For example, the theory of electrodynamics, which is defined by Maxwells famous formulas, does not provide us with the answer of what is the nature of magnetism. Only Albert Einstein was able to bring us closer to understanding of what causes physical subjects to have magnetic properties.
However, for hundreds of years, prior to Einstein, scientists were able to define the laws of electrodynamics, without knowing what causes them to exist in the first place. The method of magic is different. We can say that magicians often have a complete understanding of natural phenomenon, without possessing a factual knowledge about it. For example, the method of hypnosis, which is being traditionally associated with magic, is based on the principle of psychological manipulation. In other words it is essentially scientific.
However, the magician, who resorts to hypnosis, does not really understand this fact. He does not have the knowledge of psychological theories, but this does not prevent him from being able to psychologically manipulate the audience in very effective manner. Magician knows that, whatever is stupid but works, is not stupid. When hunter is aiming at flying goose, he does not engage in mathematic calculations, still, his brain does it for him subconsciously.
Therefore, we can define magic as minds capacity to unconscious analysis. The practical application of magic can be compared to how people, who do not have a degree in physics, are able to operate with complicated electrical equipment. All that it is required, on their part, to make stereo system begin to play music, is to touch a button. Let us imagine what would happen, if we were able to travel 500 years back in time with such stereo system.
People would inevitably begin to think of us as very powerful magicians. This is why, it is fundamentally wrong to oppose magic to science, as some people do. These two disciplines are closely interrelated and often derive out of each other. There is more and more evidence is being found these days that technological civilizations existed on Earth much earlier than even the beginning of last Ice Age.
Ancient Romans and Greeks considered historical process as having a regressive nature. This is why they came up with a notion of Golden, Bronze and Iron ages. It is not by the pure chance that the origins on many magical doctrines cannot even be traced back. Nevertheless, it is impossible to suggest, as Marxists did, that ancient peoples magical worldview derived from their fear of nature.
Fear cannot motivate people to take an active stance in life. Magic corresponds to mans desire to dominate the objective reality, because of their subconscious memory of the time when they were semi-gods. (2) Many modern sciences had originated as form of magic. Chemistry, for example, is a logical development of alchemy. Alchemists believed in divine seed, which could be found even in the smallest particles of matter. Their task was to bring this seed to life, which would allow them to change the chemical structure of this matter.
According to alchemical theory, it is quite possible to turn iron into the gold and other way around. This could only be accomplished through riding metals of chemical impurity. This is why alchemists were widely using a distillation, as a practical method of returning minerals to their original state. Todays chemists and physics have come to the same conclusion. In 20 th century it was being practically proven that, it was possible to extract huge amounts of energy out of seemingly dead matter. 10 kilograms of Uranium 235 contain enough energy to provide heat and electrical power to a country of 50 million people for 100 years.
However, in order to receive this chemical element in its pure form, scientists need to refine a hundreds of tons of Uranium core. The principle of purity has a truly universal application. Alchemists were aware that everything has to do with everything. It is very easy to mix one kilogram of gold with fifty grams of lead, for example, by the mean of fusing them together, when these two metals are in the molten state.
Yet, it is practically impossible to separate them afterwards. As result, gold ceases to have its value. The same can be said about social dynamics, within a country. We can celebrate diversity in America all we want, but it will inevitably result in this nation becoming a Third World country, as the logical result. Alchemists thought that it was possible to create elixir of immortality. The recent discoveries in the field of biology suggest that there is no logical explanation why living organisms age and die, because cells in our bodies continuously renew themselves.
If we could only find the way of prolonging this continuous renewal, people would be able to substantially increase their life span and maybe even to become immortal. Alchemists were also striving to create an artificial living being, which they used to refer to as homunculus. The technology of cloning allows us to do this even today. Therefore, we can say that the goals of chemistry and alchemy remained essentially the same, throughout the history. The only difference lies in the domain of terminology and methods. Yet, this difference cannot be thought of something that erects a wall between alchemy and chemistry, which cannot be penetrated.
Scientific methods are only the reflection of theory. In its turn, scientific theories often become outdated, as technological progress moves forward. Every generation of scientists consider their theories as being absolutely credible, but as practice shows, it is always only the matter of time, before newly designed theories replace the old ones. (3) Ancient people did not separate astronomy and astrology. In fact, the reason why they were becoming interested in observation of night skies was purely practical they simply wanted to know what fate was holding for them. Somehow, they thought that the movement of stars and planets in the sky corresponded to their individual destinies. This can be explained by the fact that, before the advent of Christianity and Islam, the worldview of Indo-Europeans was distinctively pantheistic.
People knew that they were the natures greatest product, but at the same time, they did not oppose themselves to nature. The empirical observations of celestial bodies movements, which were being conducted throughout the centuries, allowed astrologists to design horoscopes on individual basis. It is understood that astrological theory does not poses much of scientific value, as the concept that insists that there is a direct link between planets and stars, on one hand, and people, on the other. Nevertheless, it is an empirical observation of astrologists that allowed the emergence of astronomy. The inventor of telescope, Galileo Galilei, was an established astrologist, who made his living on fortune telling.
Jordan Bruno also used to be an avid reader of astrological books. John Bishops article Precursors to Modern Astronomy does not leave a doubt that astronomy and astrology are closely related: Astrology was born in these stories: the attempt by humans to understand and to influence their destiny through patterns among the stars and planets that were supposed to have influence on our lives. Astrology is not science, and has absolutely no evidence to support its validity, but it gave birth to modern astronomy. Even only 400 years ago it was common for astronomers to be astrologers too.
Many giants in the development of modern astronomy paid the bills by casting horoscopes for patrons, even as they were simultaneously laying the foundation for a new world view that would leave no place for astrology and related hokum (Bishop). Nowadays, the astrology is becoming fashionable again among great many people. This tendency, of course, cannot be thought of as something that proves the validity of astrology as scientific discipline. It simply indicates the fact that biological quality of Western society is being continuously undermined. In ancient times it was peoples idealism, which was making them believe that their lives had a cosmic reflection. Today it is a result of people indulging in prejudices.
Thus, it would not be an exaggeration to suggest that astrology can be referred to as the mother of astronomy. This points out to the fact that it is ancient peoples magical vision of the world, which allowed them to develop an abstract apparatus of their thinking (4) Ever since Christianity had received an official status in Roman Empire, Christians embarked on destroying the scientific and cultural legacy of ancient civilizations. Greek and Roman ideals of beauty and perfection, embodied in their sculptures (almost all of them were destroyed by Christians), yielded to midgets, hunchbacks, lunatics and impotent's, whose motto was: no washing, no shaving, no marrying, no working. The same thing happened in the intellectual domain, as well. Very hard and difficult was for the science to break out of Christian imprisonment. It is by a pure chance that that names of Plato, Aristotle, Seneca and others were preserved to the history.
The beginning of Enlightenment era in many European countries coincided with the fact that Christian dogma began to loose validity, in the eyes of progressive philosophers. People were gradually beginning to embrace the ancient scientific notions. The essence of these notions was pantheistic. This is when the concept of Natural Philosophy had originated from in the first place, in its contemporary interpretation. Natural Philosophy analyses the expressions of objective reality in their relation to each other. It suggests that we cannot discus people out of social context.
We cannot think of scientific disciplines as such that only pursue their own secular agendas. Therefore, in order for us to get...
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Research essay sample on Scientific Theories Objective Reality
