The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Harry's use of Black Magic
Bad Alias:
This thread seems like the most appropriate place to drop this quote that struck me.
--- Quote ---[T]he First Law of Magic prohibited using it[magic] to kill a human being. There was some grey area involved with it, but not much, and it was the sort of thing one didn't play around with.
--- End quote ---
The Warrior about a third of the way in.
It's almost never as simple as the black letter law, and I think we all can/have agreed to that. That the 1st Law has a grey area isn't what surprised me. It was that I didn't recall Harry ever saying anything like that. (I haven't read the short stories as much as the books). This quote doesn't really inform us of much. He might only be referring to the "defense of self or others from black magic" exception. He might be referring to that and some other things.
I do think this is probably the most succinct and detailed in text description of the 1st Law we have in text.
Mira:
--- Quote from: Bad Alias on February 16, 2020, 02:31:29 AM ---This thread seems like the most appropriate place to drop this quote that struck me.The Warrior about a third of the way in.
It's almost never as simple as the black letter law, and I think we all can/have agreed to that. That the 1st Law has a grey area isn't what surprised me. It was that I didn't recall Harry ever saying anything like that. (I haven't read the short stories as much as the books). This quote doesn't really inform us of much. He might only be referring to the "defense of self or others from black magic" exception. He might be referring to that and some other things.
I do think this is probably the most succinct and detailed in text description of the 1st Law we have in text.
--- End quote ---
I don't remember reading that but it has been a while since I read "The Warrior," it is one of my favorites. I've always felt that there was a lot of "grey" area when it comes to the First Law. I think the real question is how it is rationalized when one breaks it, some are harder on themselves than others.
Bad Alias:
I'd say there's "not much" grey area and the real question is what is that grey area.
Arjan:
--- Quote from: Bad Alias on February 16, 2020, 04:40:02 AM ---I'd say there's "not much" grey area and the real question is what is that grey area.
--- End quote ---
Anything Jim wants :)
If we talk about the councils laws it is best to ignore the natural underpinning that inspired it and just go for how human law works because the laws and their interpretation are just human work.
A simple law can never include all circumstances of what can happen and there must be a long tradition about how it was interpreted in all kind of situations and the results.
And it is not about morality. You can use a magic sword to kill someone or bind someone with magic an use a knife.
And it is not exactly about black magic taint either. I am sure that there are ways to taint yourself not covered by the laws.
It is about damage control as Lucio explained to Harry (White Night or dead beat if I remember correctly)
Mira:
--- Quote from: Arjan on February 16, 2020, 09:06:28 AM ---Anything Jim wants :)
If we talk about the councils laws it is best to ignore the natural underpinning that inspired it and just go for how human law works because the laws and their interpretation are just human work.
A simple law can never include all circumstances of what can happen and there must be a long tradition about how it was interpreted in all kind of situations and the results.
And it is not about morality. You can use a magic sword to kill someone or bind someone with magic an use a knife.
And it is not exactly about black magic taint either. I am sure that there are ways to taint yourself not covered by the laws.
It is about damage control as Lucio explained to Harry (White Night or dead beat if I remember correctly)
--- End quote ---
That is why a lot of it beyond what blantently breaks the First Law is a matter of rationalization of the one doing it... No, you might not lose your head because of it, perhaps it had to be done, but how do you feel about it? That is what nibbles at the soul..
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