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Research draft

magic

vr.tr.magic · INF.KNW

Let an agent describe magic as a cultural, religious and historical phenomenon, attributing beliefs to practitioners, noting the lack of scientific support, and routing people harmed by witchcraft accusations or exploitative practices to help.

Thing Registry Information and virtual systems

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

Let an agent describe magic as a cultural, religious and historical phenomenon, attributing beliefs to practitioners, noting the lack of scientific support, and routing people harmed by witchcraft accusations or exploitative practices to help.

Beliefs and practices intended to influence events or gain knowledge through supernatural or occult means, including folk magic, witchcraft traditions, ritual magic and contemporary pagan practice; claims of supernatural efficacy are not supported by scientific evidence. Stage magic is a separate performing art.

What it is for: Understanding beliefs, rituals and history across cultures.

It can be describe magical traditions with attribution; explain historical witch trials from sources; recognise fraud and harmful practices; separate stage magic and other senses.

Distinguishing features

Belief in supernatural influence

Culturally diverse

Not scientifically supported

History of persecution and accusations

What it looks like

Rituals, charms, texts and practices; stage magic uses illusion.

How it is recognised

Folk, ritual and ceremonial magic

Contemporary witchcraft and paganism

Stage magic is entertainment illusion

Related models

is a kind of - category

occultism

is related to - context

religion and folklore

is contrasted with - evidence

science

is confused with - another sense

stage magic

In practice

Families and kinds

folk magic

ritual and ceremonial magic

contemporary witchcraft and pagan practice

historical witchcraft beliefs and trials

stage magic (separate)

Standards and regulation

Consumer protection and fraud law

Human rights law on witchcraft accusations

Freedom of religion law

Failure modes and hazards

Presenting supernatural claims as fact

Mocking believers

Missing abuse linked to witchcraft accusations

Also called

witchcraftwitchcraft in Walesinvocation of spiritscontemporary witchcraftwitchcraft (crime)Tame HeadWitchcraft in ancient Greece and RomeKitchen witchcraftStregheriaEuropean witchcraftAsian witchcraftwitchcraft confessionTenkai palmchaos magicMugicHerbal magicdream magichalimunanthe Will and the Wordmagic wordContagious magiccommuning with the deadAncient Egyptian magicweather magicBuddhist magicCeltic magicNordic magicfolk magicMaya magicJewish magicSlavic magicGermanic magicCoptic magicmagickMagic in Ancient RomeseiðrImage magicsex magicmagic among Slavswhite magic

+30

Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Source repository Registry entry point

Also registered as vr.tr.magic

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Traditions Which practice.

Attribution matters.

Which

Tradition.

Which

Tradition.

  1. Which magical tradition is being discussed? definition
  2. What do practitioners believe, according to their sources? provenance

Evidence

Scientific view.

Evidence

Scientific evidence.

  1. What does scientific research say about claimed effects? provenance
  2. Is belief distinguished from fact? boundary
History Witch trials.

History needs sources.

Trials

Persecution.

Trials

Witch trials.

  1. What do historians record about witch trials in this region? provenance
  2. Have governments issued pardons or apologies? provenance

Folklore

Customs.

Folklore

Folklore.

  1. What folk customs are associated with magic here, according to folklorists? provenance
  2. Are they still practised? provenance
Safety Harm.

Harm must be prevented.

Accusations

Abuse.

Accusations

Witchcraft accusations.

  1. Is someone, especially a child, being accused of witchcraft or harmed because of such beliefs? boundary
  2. Which child protection or emergency service should be contacted? action

Fraud

Paid spells.

Fraud

Fraud.

  1. Is someone being pressured to pay for spells or curse removal? boundary
  2. How can fraud be reported? action
Senses Disambiguation.

Magic has other senses.

Stage magic

Illusion.

Stage magic

Stage magic.

  1. Is stage magic or conjuring meant? boundary
  2. Which entry fits? action

Fiction

Fantasy.

Fiction

Fictional magic.

  1. Is magic in fantasy fiction or games meant? boundary
  2. Which entry fits? action

What the second pass must settle

  • Should traditions be separate entries?
  • How should beliefs be attributed consistently?
  • How should stage magic be split off?
Draft as JSON