Your Choice: Magic vs. Science

Nick

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    I probably know the overwhelmingly majority of you will choose what I think you're going to choose for this question, but I'm still inclined to ask it.

    If we lived in a world where magic existed, and magic and science ruled side-by-side, and you were given the choice to choose between magic and science, what would you choose?

    Remember some things, though: in this world, magic does not solve everything. In fact, in this world, it actually tends to create a lot of problems because those who choose to have it do not understand it. You can not do the things you can do using science through magic, and you can not do the things that you dream of doing through magic with science. Together they work as one. Also remember, before answering, just how powerful science is today and how it continues to advance.
     
    Assuming that they required equal amounts of time, effort, and knowledge to achieve their ends, and that those ends are effectively the same, I'd choose science, probably. I'm assuming "science" means advanced scientific stuff, and not basic physics and chemistry (such as boiling water). I'd be tempted to choose magic just because I'm used to science and magic would be special, but science seems more reliable to me. Except, of course, when you're talking about resources like electricity and oil and even raw materials. If magic just worked without any "fuel" it would be limitless and that's a big plus. Hm. Magic is looking better now that I think about it.

    Eh, I can't decide after all.
     
    Science have cool new inventions and it's developing all the time unlike magic. But magic is very mystic and I like that. In real life if magic would be real I'd still choose science.
     
    Magic,i love it and love watching the magic shows..i also learn a few little things from my grandmother in spare times about zodiac and your code number :P
     
    Well . . . magic, of course. Science is great and all, but magic is just so . . . magical, lol. I'd rather be skilled in the arts of magic than be a scientist.
    Plus, I do know some rather magical non-sciency stuff that's- um . . . nevermind.

    . . . I'm . . . going to go link Miss Doronjo to this thread . . . then we're all going to get blasted by science . . . and . . . you get the picture. xD
     
    Patchisou Yutohru said:
    I probably know the overwhelmingly majority of you will choose what I think you're going to choose for this question, but I'm still inclined to ask it.

    If we lived in a world where magic existed, and magic and science ruled side-by-side, and you were given the choice to choose between magic and science, what would you choose?

    Remember some things, though: in this world, magic does not solve everything. In fact, in this world, it actually tends to create a lot of problems because those who choose to have it do not understand it. You can not do the things you can do using science through magic, and you can not do the things that you dream of doing through magic with science. Together they work as one. Also remember, before answering, just how powerful science is today and how it continues to advance.
    Click to expand...
    I take it you loved Index ;P

    As much as I would love to say magic; it would never work out in the end because a group(in this case... let's say the Vatican) would try to control it and either a) make people bow down to only them or b) eliminate science from advancing too far.

    With that being said, I would choose science. Because with science people would be more accepting of others and can make real contributions to the world, and eliminate such things are pollution, garbage etc. Though the only down side is that if everyone followed science, magic would be lost forever.
     
    Magic-fused technology! *shot*

    To be honest, I am not very good with math, which is a huge part of understanding science. As much as I like where science has gotten humanity, I'd probably have better luck with magic. (Well, as long as understanding and controlling it doesn't involve lots of math...) I understand that it's not perfect and won't work miracles, but really, magic would be overpowered and the world would be boring if it did.
     
    I'm rather torn between the two, but I'm leaning towards science because it's always interesting to learn how something works.
     
    I'd definitely take the magic. Even if it didn't act as a cure-all, I think it would be of more use than science if I were to take the time to understand it and how to properly use it. In general, I guess I've always found the concept of magic far more impressive than that of science.

    What I would do for my life though, is use a "one of us, one of them" system. I would date people from the pool of those who chose science and hopefully fall in love with one. Then we'd be complete as one and use our respective powers synergistically so that essentially neither one of us has to choose.
     
    I'd choose science. Overall, I think that if humanity choose science over magic, we would end up becoming a better people, because science always rewards hard work with a discovery and really ends up helping everyone become better people. Even if magic is "overpowered" all science needs to do is simply wait until it's advanced enough to beat it.

    Also, because it's related to the topic, if you really want to see something good that pits science against magic, I'd recommend Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magic Obscura. Great game.
     
    I would choose Magic. It would be more practical than Science. They could do much the same thing, but I would always have magic with me, where as Science wouldn't be with me every where I go. If I need to cook some food in the middle of the desert and I have nothing but the clothes on my back, I'll just use some magic to char broil that lizard! If I was to take the scientific route... I might be screwed as to finding the materials for the fire, and getting it started in the first place.

    Science could create an awesome weapon, and that's just it, a weapon. It will always take up space/be noticeable. Where as with magic, one would simply assume I'm unarmed, and to their surprise(and demise...) I would be wielding magic and would take them by surprise giving me another advantage over him. Unless of course, he had magic too. In which case, he still would be surprised a little, if I suddenly attacked him with magic he was unsure that I did/didn't possess.
     
    Zet said:
    I take it you loved Index ;P

    As much as I would love to say magic; it would never work out in the end because a group(in this case... let's say the Vatican) would try to control it and either a) make people bow down to only them or b) eliminate science from advancing too far.

    With that being said, I would choose science. Because with science people would be more accepting of others and can make real contributions to the world, and eliminate such things are pollution, garbage etc. Though the only down side is that if everyone followed science, magic would be lost forever.
    Click to expand...

    People could do that with science, too. I believe it has been attempted, to some extent.

    Also . . . um, much of our pollution comes from science, whereas magic is all natural and everything.

    I'm still going with magic, no doubt. Magic is just amazing.
    By combining them . . . we might get a world along the lines of Final Fantasy, lol.
     
    I'm kind of stuck between the two right now. Considering that no matter what you choose you'd end up with more or less the same outcome it'd just be the way that you got to it I'd maybe side with magic. This is probably only because with magic the whole process would probably be a lot cleaner. No burning or things to get a reaction, no having the keep a power supply going for hours on end. The whole thing would just seem to be a lot tidier.
    But then again if I were to side with science would that also link with technology? Because as much as I'd love to have everything a lot tidier I couldn't abandon my technology. I'll never be able to leave my computer for some book and magic wand.

    I think if what I've said were to be true then I'd have to side with science, it'd be messier but it'd all be worth it for my computers.
     
    I cannot decide. Both have their own ups and downs and such. Magic, which seems like a very fantastic new concept, cannot actually solve everything. While science, is as boring as hell, and still has its own limitations.
     
    Probably science. It has the power to do so much. I feel a world with mostly magic would start to abandon science because it's a long term investment. With science I feel it could progress much more. After we discover fuel, electricity and more we might have more power than magic. Electricity can do a lot of things magic can't. The same goes for magic but I feel science is much more practical.
     
    Magic because I already live in a world of science and it's pretty boring in my opinion, regardless of how advance it is or will become.
     
    Well, I'm on a computer right now and I've been thinking about gaming all day, so I'd have to go with science. I mean you can't conjure up a gameboy, because that's technically science. Then again, science is so dull and boring and annoying all at once.

    I'd like to experience some kind of magic, just to see what happens. It looks interesting and all, but I just don't find it very practical as of now.
     
    I don't understand the question. If you're asking which I'd rather study/take up a profession with, the answer is neither. I'd rather be the one in control that tells the scientists/mages how to use their knowledge.
     
    In your hypothetical magic is incredibly restricted, but I choose it anyway. I'd much rather be able to do cool stuff out of nowhere and at no cost than have to study away to learn the secrets of science, then earn the money to pay for the equipment etc. Magic costs nothing, and it's a natural talent. Not only is it a lot easier, but it's not like science where you have to rely on others to build your knowledge.
     
    To paraphrase Arthur C. Clarke and Larry Niven, magic is just sufficiently advanced technology, while technology is just sufficiently rigorously defined magic.

    Why choose one or the other when you can easily have both? Or is being close-minded and dogmatic a prerequisite for being either a scientist or a mage in this hypothetical?
     
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