The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers

There is no such thing as "Black" Magic in the Dresdenverse

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Shift8:
My theory is that the "taint" people see of "dark" magic in the books is something else entirely or simply not indicative of invariably become more evil with the use of black magic. I think the characters in the story see what they want to see and hear what the want to hear, so the pervasive belief in the black magic turning wizards evil results in a confirmation bias where everyone interprets what they see through that lens.

The_Sibelis:
I think the becoming something inhuman factor shouldn't be dismissed. I don't think the end all problem is it changes people. Indeed it does, but the choice, the control of it, is subsequently comprised by a being that would seem to come from the outside considering the black magic-outsider connections. So these beings violating free will similar to the fallen or demons cannot be detected or 'righted' by the Angelic order. They have no opposite to reign them in. So warlocks tend to go south alot more consistently, with no natural means to detect or fight the entity. Dresden being starborn helps him I'd bet.

Mira:

--- Quote from: Shift8 on December 14, 2021, 04:27:58 AM ---My theory is that the "taint" people see of "dark" magic in the books is something else entirely or simply not indicative of invariably become more evil with the use of black magic. I think the characters in the story see what they want to see and hear what the want to hear, so the pervasive belief in the black magic turning wizards evil results in a confirmation bias where everyone interprets what they see through that lens.

--- End quote ---

I believe in the Dresdenverse, Black Magic is real, or at least Harry gives a description of of it when he had his first battle with Cowl.  I cannot remember if Cowl actually used it in the battle, but Harry describes a "greasy undertone or feeling" to Black Magic.  That says it is a tangible force.  I think of Black Magic in terms of addiction, it can produce big results with little effort, all the while giving the user a "rush" from the resulting power.   As a result is it is very hard for the user or practitioner not to return to that well, and over time it changes how the user thinks and acts, and not in a good way.. So the simplistic explanation is the use of Black Magic makes the user evil.

Shift8:
I don't deny that there are persons in the books that identify what they think is a taint from black magic. My point is that these characters, depending on which one we are referring to, are almost certainly either lying or subject to confirmation bias. If we stop to consider the conceptual problems with the very idea of black magic, or how such a thing could be known to exist, the proposition becomes very dubious indeed.

The issue, to reiterate, is that the idea of "evil magic" or the idea that "doing it turns you evil" independent of the purpose to which the magic is being put, or the mind of the user, is fundamentally incoherent. Which means it cannot be the case, even in a fantasy setting.

I know some will object with "its fantasy anything can be the case because the story says so!" But this simply is not the case. You can have elements of a fantasy story that are logically valid but don't exist in the real world. The problem is when you have things in a story which are logically impossible.

Mira:

--- Quote ---he issue, to reiterate, is that the idea of "evil magic" or the idea that "doing it turns you evil" independent of the purpose to which the magic is being put, or the mind of the user, is fundamentally incoherent. Which means it cannot be the case, even in a fantasy setting.

--- End quote ---

  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. 

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