The Danger of Magical Explanations

We create magical explanations for phenomena when we lack a sufficiently sophisticated system of symbolic representation (language) and do not understand the specific mechanisms by which the phenomena actually work. In other words, we use simplistic language and make-believe working parts.

For example, what IS fire?

A magical explanation would be that it is a spirit of destruction.

A scientific explanation would be that it is, "the rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products."

Clearly we can see that one explanation is more sophisticated than the other, and one mentions specific mechanical processes (chemical, exothermic, release of products) to explain what is actually happening.

While neither explanation actually tells us what fire IS, one very clearly tells us far more about fire than the other. If we want to understand fire well enough to use it properly and with the greatest benefit, the scientific explanation is clearly the better. The scientific explanation allows us to get as close as we possibly can to understanding fire. It allows for the greatest possible accuracy and thus, the greatest possible usefulness.

Notice something very tricky here. If we focus on the magical explanation, we are forced to come up with explanations for how the spirit works, what the nature of the spirit is, how to deal with the spirits, etc., etc. Essentially what this means is that a magical explanation is not merely low accuracy, but it also creates the risk of creating entire systems of explanations that are increasingly divorced from the reality of a thing. Magical explanations give us the lowest possible accuracy and not only the lowest usefulness, but may actually lead to increased harm.

When you explain the things you believe you understand, are you using magical explanations or scientific explanations? Again, scientific explanations are not perfect, but they are certainly better than magic. Science gives us a better process for coming to higher accuracy and higher usefulness in our explanations.