The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
There is no such thing as "Black" Magic in the Dresdenverse
Shift8:
--- Quote from: Mira on December 16, 2021, 12:01:39 AM --- It isn't that the magic itself is evil, it is that it is an extreme powerful shortcut. This does things to the those suseptable to the corrupting influences of that kind of power.
--- End quote ---
No doubt that power corrupts. But this would surely be the same for magic as it is with any other kind of power. The description of the effects of "black" magic given by the White Council goes way beyond merely being concerned about power (even if that is what Luccio tells Dresden later). They make the claim that people who violate the laws of magic invariably turn evil, regardless of their own will. Dresden specifically claims that the supposed reason is (Im paraphrasing) "killing someone with the forces of creation corrupts you etc". This goes hand in hand with their legal policy, which is to kill anyone (typically even for self defense) for violates these laws under the presumption that they will inevitably turn evil.
Mira:
--- Quote from: Shift8 on December 16, 2021, 02:32:50 AM ---No doubt that power corrupts. But this would surely be the same for magic as it is with any other kind of power. The description of the effects of "black" magic given by the White Council goes way beyond merely being concerned about power (even if that is what Luccio tells Dresden later). They make the claim that people who violate the laws of magic invariably turn evil, regardless of their own will. Dresden specifically claims that the supposed reason is (Im paraphrasing) "killing someone with the forces of creation corrupts you etc". This goes hand in hand with their legal policy, which is to kill anyone (typically even for self defense) for violates these laws under the presumption that they will inevitably turn evil.
--- End quote ---
Harry is proof that that isn't true, however he is also proof that it can be a slippery slope. I think the point you are missing is what corrupts isn't the magic itself but how easily and unfairly a wizard can kill or enthrall using his magic. This gives the wizard wielding such power a rush or I should say could, if this leads to them thinking they can take other liberties simply because they can, as in snuffing out life, forcing others to their will.. So while it doesn't always happen that way, it can, and often does in extreme cases, that is why the Seven Laws are nearly a zero tolerance policy..
Shift8:
--- Quote from: Mira on December 16, 2021, 04:34:56 AM ---Harry is proof that that isn't true, however he is also proof that it can be a slippery slope. I think the point you are missing is what corrupts isn't the magic itself but how easily and unfairly a wizard can kill or enthrall using his magic. This gives the wizard wielding such power a rush or I should say could, if this leads to them thinking they can take other liberties simply because they can, as in snuffing out life, forcing others to their will.. So while it doesn't always happen that way, it can, and often does in extreme cases, that is why the Seven Laws are nearly a zero tolerance policy..
--- End quote ---
Not sure how Harry is proof of this. I dont recall him doing anything particularly bad. The worst thing he has done so far is rescue Thomas from the Svartalves without actual evidence that Thomas was innocent. But he was forced to do that by Mab.
In any case, if the corruption is not "due to the magic itself" than there is no corruption. At that point it is just like anything else, subject to the self-control of the user, and there is no reason for these things to be illegal in this way. Its also unclear to me how you would distinguish between the "rush" a user might feel from killing with magic and the rush they might get if they kill without magic.
morriswalters:
You may be right or you may be wrong. There is no way to settle it. But it can be true simply because Jim says so. It doesn't need to be internally consistent. Of the Seven Laws only two would seem to have a basis in black magic.
Thou shall not kill and Thou shall not invade the mind of another.
The second seems to drive young warlocks insane and the first does something to the aura of the wizard. It's implied in the text that mind magic may not always work that way, but it's notable that Peabody uses alchemy to do his work on the WC and the Wardens and that the Wardens use physical weapons rather then magic when dealing with mortals.
It's possible that necromancy as used by Kumori may do some harm that has not, at this point in the story, been revealed to us. However the Dark Hallow would have killed thousands had it succeed. With Kumori what she did may have absorbed life from the surrounding mortals, using it somewhat like the vampires do. This may be the basis of vampire killing Time will tell.
Shift8:
--- Quote from: morriswalters on December 16, 2021, 08:12:08 PM --- But it can be true simply because Jim says so. It doesn't need to be internally consistent.
--- End quote ---
We might have to agree to disagree on this particular point. It could be true if Jim says so, in the sense that he means for it to be that way in the story, but even if he meant it that way it still makes the story worse because at that point it wont make any sense...even if Jim thinks otherwise. However I doubt any of that was his intention.
I am fine with it being possible that violations of the laws have other harms associated with them. I just dont think their is a invariable magical corruption at play.
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