The Definition of Magic
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3403189 |
|---|---|
| Authors | F B Jevons (corresponding author) |
| Year | 1908 |
| Volume | a1 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 105-117 |
| Publication date | 1908-04-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Sociological Review (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0038-0261 • E-ISSN: 1467-954X |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1467-954x.1908.tb02996.x |
| OpenAlex | W2127383026 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
I )Magic is, at the present day, condemned by science, morality and religion.By science it is condemned as a means : magic simply does not do what it professes to do.By morality it is condemned just so far as its ends are morally wrong: whether it is an efficacious means to those ends is a question which does not concern morality; and if the ends are, as in a minority of cases (those designated sometimes as White Magic) they may be, morally inoffensive or even praiseworthy, no moral question arises as to the means; and magic then is not morally offensive, however silly it may be from the point of view of the intellect.By religion it is condemned as a means, so far, and only so far, as it has recourse to the aid of evil spirits, or so far as it is practised by those who have communications with them.Its ends also are condemned inasmuch as no permissible ends can be the real intention of evil spirits.( 2 ) But though magic is now condemned by science, morality and religion, it has in past times succeeded in allying itself with each of them.Medicine and alchemy or chemistry are sciences which have only comparatively recently disengaged themselves from magic.Witch-finding and exorcism are processes of a magical nature which the moral sense of the community practising them strongly approves of.Magic was incorporated, with the minimum of necessary change, into religion in Babylonia, Assyria, Egypt, and elsewhere.(3) The connection of magic with science is explained by Dr. Frazer (History of the Kingship, p. 38) : I ' Magic is a spurious system of natural law as well as a fallacious guide of conduct, a false science as well as an abortive art."I ' The views of natural causation embraced by the savage magician no doubt appear to us as manifestly false and absurd ; yet in their day they were legitimate A
Epistemology · MAGIC (telescope) · Physics · Sociology · Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs · Philosophy · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices · Sleep and Wakefulness Research
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,09 |
| Citation span | 2004 - 2014 (11) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |