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How to not let magic advance the technology too fast?
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So lets say that the level of the non-magic wielding species i.e. humans technology is at around the level it was in the early medieval times.
I would then introduce magic to the rest of the world in a form of a new species. The species i.e. elves would have lived within the world but hidden from the humankind. They would have long traditions with magic etc. The whole race would be peaceful (with a few exceptions).
The magic would lurk in to the world as humanity knows it, through some elves sent to live among them. And the country/ area of elves would become open for trade etc. (All of this due to the elves needing more resources etc. to live in the small area with a growing population)
There would be a few very strong elves who wouldn't have many limits on the magic, but those few would have more like a god status and have little to no interest in the happenings of this world.
Then there would be also a few powerful elves whose magic is strong enough to be the leaders of the elf country. They'd be peaceful and only use their powers when needed to defend their kind. If there was a war they would be easily the most powerful country in the world.
The average towns folk elf would be powerful compared to humans, but they wouldn't have so many spells or types of magic they can control. I.e. one could hold about 5 different spells which would be directed toward their professions and learned with long training. So lets say there was a farmer elf. That elf would probably have spells related to water, growing plants, shaping of land and around two others. On top of the main spells they would have learned a lot of weak spells etc.
Wielding magic without any magical items would still be very rare in the human countries and the average human could only learn to wield it through certain life threatening rituals and years of studying and training.
There would however, be many magic items introduced to humans trough the trade some countries open with the elves i.e. potions, weapons and lets say crystals that hold magical energy (would be needed to use magical weapons) and many other types of things. These items would be "low in magic" making the elves and few people have the real power of magic.
Magic would (very) slowly become inherited(?) to the mankind through slow mixing of the species (which would be banned at places -> very slow). It would however make the powerful magic wielders increase with time.
Problem comes with the few master crafts elves and weapon makers etc. who'd be able to make guns or something like that. And these could "modernize the world overnight" so to say.
The problem what this makes, is that (what I call) the technology level of the world would eventually increase its developing speed when I want to keep the human side of worlds era in the middle-ages (and generally not modernized) as long or possibly longer than it was in the Earth.
I really don't want the world to get to modernity any time soon, so my question is:
How do I keep the (mainly human) world from starting to develop their technology level too fast or "modernizing overnight" with the introduction of magic?
technology magic medieval technological-development
asked 2 hours ago
Seley
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up vote
3
down vote
favorite
So lets say that the level of the non-magic wielding species i.e. humans technology is at around the level it was in the early medieval times.
I would then introduce magic to the rest of the world in a form of a new species. The species i.e. elves would have lived within the world but hidden from the humankind. They would have long traditions with magic etc. The whole race would be peaceful (with a few exceptions).
The magic would lurk in to the world as humanity knows it, through some elves sent to live among them. And the country/ area of elves would become open for trade etc. (All of this due to the elves needing more resources etc. to live in the small area with a growing population)
There would be a few very strong elves who wouldn't have many limits on the magic, but those few would have more like a god status and have little to no interest in the happenings of this world.
Then there would be also a few powerful elves whose magic is strong enough to be the leaders of the elf country. They'd be peaceful and only use their powers when needed to defend their kind. If there was a war they would be easily the most powerful country in the world.
The average towns folk elf would be powerful compared to humans, but they wouldn't have so many spells or types of magic they can control. I.e. one could hold about 5 different spells which would be directed toward their professions and learned with long training. So lets say there was a farmer elf. That elf would probably have spells related to water, growing plants, shaping of land and around two others. On top of the main spells they would have learned a lot of weak spells etc.
Wielding magic without any magical items would still be very rare in the human countries and the average human could only learn to wield it through certain life threatening rituals and years of studying and training.
There would however, be many magic items introduced to humans trough the trade some countries open with the elves i.e. potions, weapons and lets say crystals that hold magical energy (would be needed to use magical weapons) and many other types of things. These items would be "low in magic" making the elves and few people have the real power of magic.
Magic would (very) slowly become inherited(?) to the mankind through slow mixing of the species (which would be banned at places -> very slow). It would however make the powerful magic wielders increase with time.
Problem comes with the few master crafts elves and weapon makers etc. who'd be able to make guns or something like that. And these could "modernize the world overnight" so to say.
The problem what this makes, is that (what I call) the technology level of the world would eventually increase its developing speed when I want to keep the human side of worlds era in the middle-ages (and generally not modernized) as long or possibly longer than it was in the Earth.
I really don't want the world to get to modernity any time soon, so my question is:
How do I keep the (mainly human) world from starting to develop their technology level too fast or "modernizing overnight" with the introduction of magic?
technology magic medieval technological-development
asked 2 hours ago
Seley
163
New contributor
Seley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
So lets say that the level of the non-magic wielding species i.e. humans technology is at around the level it was in the early medieval times.
I would then introduce magic to the rest of the world in a form of a new species. The species i.e. elves would have lived within the world but hidden from the humankind. They would have long traditions with magic etc. The whole race would be peaceful (with a few exceptions).
The magic would lurk in to the world as humanity knows it, through some elves sent to live among them. And the country/ area of elves would become open for trade etc. (All of this due to the elves needing more resources etc. to live in the small area with a growing population)
There would be a few very strong elves who wouldn't have many limits on the magic, but those few would have more like a god status and have little to no interest in the happenings of this world.
Then there would be also a few powerful elves whose magic is strong enough to be the leaders of the elf country. They'd be peaceful and only use their powers when needed to defend their kind. If there was a war they would be easily the most powerful country in the world.
The average towns folk elf would be powerful compared to humans, but they wouldn't have so many spells or types of magic they can control. I.e. one could hold about 5 different spells which would be directed toward their professions and learned with long training. So lets say there was a farmer elf. That elf would probably have spells related to water, growing plants, shaping of land and around two others. On top of the main spells they would have learned a lot of weak spells etc.
Wielding magic without any magical items would still be very rare in the human countries and the average human could only learn to wield it through certain life threatening rituals and years of studying and training.
There would however, be many magic items introduced to humans trough the trade some countries open with the elves i.e. potions, weapons and lets say crystals that hold magical energy (would be needed to use magical weapons) and many other types of things. These items would be "low in magic" making the elves and few people have the real power of magic.
Magic would (very) slowly become inherited(?) to the mankind through slow mixing of the species (which would be banned at places -> very slow). It would however make the powerful magic wielders increase with time.
Problem comes with the few master crafts elves and weapon makers etc. who'd be able to make guns or something like that. And these could "modernize the world overnight" so to say.
The problem what this makes, is that (what I call) the technology level of the world would eventually increase its developing speed when I want to keep the human side of worlds era in the middle-ages (and generally not modernized) as long or possibly longer than it was in the Earth.
I really don't want the world to get to modernity any time soon, so my question is:
How do I keep the (mainly human) world from starting to develop their technology level too fast or "modernizing overnight" with the introduction of magic?
technology magic medieval technological-development
asked 2 hours ago
Seley
163
New contributor
Seley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
So lets say that the level of the non-magic wielding species i.e. humans technology is at around the level it was in the early medieval times.
I would then introduce magic to the rest of the world in a form of a new species. The species i.e. elves would have lived within the world but hidden from the humankind. They would have long traditions with magic etc. The whole race would be peaceful (with a few exceptions).
The magic would lurk in to the world as humanity knows it, through some elves sent to live among them. And the country/ area of elves would become open for trade etc. (All of this due to the elves needing more resources etc. to live in the small area with a growing population)
There would be a few very strong elves who wouldn't have many limits on the magic, but those few would have more like a god status and have little to no interest in the happenings of this world.
Then there would be also a few powerful elves whose magic is strong enough to be the leaders of the elf country. They'd be peaceful and only use their powers when needed to defend their kind. If there was a war they would be easily the most powerful country in the world.
The average towns folk elf would be powerful compared to humans, but they wouldn't have so many spells or types of magic they can control. I.e. one could hold about 5 different spells which would be directed toward their professions and learned with long training. So lets say there was a farmer elf. That elf would probably have spells related to water, growing plants, shaping of land and around two others. On top of the main spells they would have learned a lot of weak spells etc.
Wielding magic without any magical items would still be very rare in the human countries and the average human could only learn to wield it through certain life threatening rituals and years of studying and training.
There would however, be many magic items introduced to humans trough the trade some countries open with the elves i.e. potions, weapons and lets say crystals that hold magical energy (would be needed to use magical weapons) and many other types of things. These items would be "low in magic" making the elves and few people have the real power of magic.
Magic would (very) slowly become inherited(?) to the mankind through slow mixing of the species (which would be banned at places -> very slow). It would however make the powerful magic wielders increase with time.
Problem comes with the few master crafts elves and weapon makers etc. who'd be able to make guns or something like that. And these could "modernize the world overnight" so to say.
The problem what this makes, is that (what I call) the technology level of the world would eventually increase its developing speed when I want to keep the human side of worlds era in the middle-ages (and generally not modernized) as long or possibly longer than it was in the Earth.
I really don't want the world to get to modernity any time soon, so my question is:
How do I keep the (mainly human) world from starting to develop their technology level too fast or "modernizing overnight" with the introduction of magic?
technology magic medieval technological-development
technology magic medieval technological-development
asked 2 hours ago
Seley
163
New contributor
Seley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
Seley
163
New contributor
Seley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
Seley
163
New contributor
Seley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
Seley
163
asked 2 hours ago
Seley
163
163
New contributor
Seley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Seley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Seley is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
In my opinion, the presence of magic would have exactly the effect you are looking for; slowing down the advance of science by both interfering with the scientific method and by destroying people's motivation to find hard science-based solutions when easy magic-based solutions already exist.
This was explored pretty thoroughly in this question, which I posted a while back.
To sum up the major ideas...
1). Science relies on the repeat-ability of results under experimental conditions. From this consistency, we draw theories which slowly grow more trusted with every successful repetition. Eventually, theories which have shown high reliability become a solid basis of further exploration which leads to new discoveries, new theories and a continuing cycle of knowledge growth. A single failure to repeat invalidates a theory, forcing us to find new explanations for what has occurred. ...unless magic is an option. Once magic is available, no revealing failure can be trusted, no experiment can be guaranteed to be free of magic tampering. The mere existence of magic undermines the scientific method. Without the significance of repeat-ability, which magic destroys, scientific growth flounders.
2). Science relies on real-life needs to motivate the arduous experimentation and repetition which leads to growth. When magical solutions exist for those real-life needs, the motivation falters, and scientists find other ways to spend their time. Nobody chooses the hard road when an easier road is also provided.
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Have incompatibilities between magic and large-scale (or often repeated) operations.
In our world, the increase in the rate of technological progress from 1700 to 1970 was closely associated with the accumulation of physical capital. Each new technology could be used to improve a larger amount of stuff than was available to the previous technology. Many of the new technologies only made sense in the context of "factories", "pipelines", and "industries".
If magic is inherently a "craft" that can only work on a few small things at a time, then the feedback loop will not get out of control.
For example, make magic increase inter-personal conflict.
If it is hard to have many people work together in a magical environment, magical factories and universities will not be practical. This will prevent the feedback loop. It also explains why so many plots (that are interesting to the author) involve magic.
Another example is to have magic users get bored easily, so they don't like repetitive work.
Or make magic work better in societies with very high marginal tax rates / very low savings rates.
Communism does not work in non-magical societies. But what if magic can make communism work well enough? Communism's high marginal tax rates will inhibit capital growth, and thus slow down the feedback loop.
answered 1 hour ago
Jasper
2,565924
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
In my opinion, the presence of magic would have exactly the effect you are looking for; slowing down the advance of science by both interfering with the scientific method and by destroying people's motivation to find hard science-based solutions when easy magic-based solutions already exist.
This was explored pretty thoroughly in this question, which I posted a while back.
To sum up the major ideas...
1). Science relies on the repeat-ability of results under experimental conditions. From this consistency, we draw theories which slowly grow more trusted with every successful repetition. Eventually, theories which have shown high reliability become a solid basis of further exploration which leads to new discoveries, new theories and a continuing cycle of knowledge growth. A single failure to repeat invalidates a theory, forcing us to find new explanations for what has occurred. ...unless magic is an option. Once magic is available, no revealing failure can be trusted, no experiment can be guaranteed to be free of magic tampering. The mere existence of magic undermines the scientific method. Without the significance of repeat-ability, which magic destroys, scientific growth flounders.
2). Science relies on real-life needs to motivate the arduous experimentation and repetition which leads to growth. When magical solutions exist for those real-life needs, the motivation falters, and scientists find other ways to spend their time. Nobody chooses the hard road when an easier road is also provided.
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
In my opinion, the presence of magic would have exactly the effect you are looking for; slowing down the advance of science by both interfering with the scientific method and by destroying people's motivation to find hard science-based solutions when easy magic-based solutions already exist.
This was explored pretty thoroughly in this question, which I posted a while back.
To sum up the major ideas...
1). Science relies on the repeat-ability of results under experimental conditions. From this consistency, we draw theories which slowly grow more trusted with every successful repetition. Eventually, theories which have shown high reliability become a solid basis of further exploration which leads to new discoveries, new theories and a continuing cycle of knowledge growth. A single failure to repeat invalidates a theory, forcing us to find new explanations for what has occurred. ...unless magic is an option. Once magic is available, no revealing failure can be trusted, no experiment can be guaranteed to be free of magic tampering. The mere existence of magic undermines the scientific method. Without the significance of repeat-ability, which magic destroys, scientific growth flounders.
2). Science relies on real-life needs to motivate the arduous experimentation and repetition which leads to growth. When magical solutions exist for those real-life needs, the motivation falters, and scientists find other ways to spend their time. Nobody chooses the hard road when an easier road is also provided.
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
In my opinion, the presence of magic would have exactly the effect you are looking for; slowing down the advance of science by both interfering with the scientific method and by destroying people's motivation to find hard science-based solutions when easy magic-based solutions already exist.
This was explored pretty thoroughly in this question, which I posted a while back.
To sum up the major ideas...
1). Science relies on the repeat-ability of results under experimental conditions. From this consistency, we draw theories which slowly grow more trusted with every successful repetition. Eventually, theories which have shown high reliability become a solid basis of further exploration which leads to new discoveries, new theories and a continuing cycle of knowledge growth. A single failure to repeat invalidates a theory, forcing us to find new explanations for what has occurred. ...unless magic is an option. Once magic is available, no revealing failure can be trusted, no experiment can be guaranteed to be free of magic tampering. The mere existence of magic undermines the scientific method. Without the significance of repeat-ability, which magic destroys, scientific growth flounders.
2). Science relies on real-life needs to motivate the arduous experimentation and repetition which leads to growth. When magical solutions exist for those real-life needs, the motivation falters, and scientists find other ways to spend their time. Nobody chooses the hard road when an easier road is also provided.
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
In my opinion, the presence of magic would have exactly the effect you are looking for; slowing down the advance of science by both interfering with the scientific method and by destroying people's motivation to find hard science-based solutions when easy magic-based solutions already exist.
This was explored pretty thoroughly in this question, which I posted a while back.
To sum up the major ideas...
1). Science relies on the repeat-ability of results under experimental conditions. From this consistency, we draw theories which slowly grow more trusted with every successful repetition. Eventually, theories which have shown high reliability become a solid basis of further exploration which leads to new discoveries, new theories and a continuing cycle of knowledge growth. A single failure to repeat invalidates a theory, forcing us to find new explanations for what has occurred. ...unless magic is an option. Once magic is available, no revealing failure can be trusted, no experiment can be guaranteed to be free of magic tampering. The mere existence of magic undermines the scientific method. Without the significance of repeat-ability, which magic destroys, scientific growth flounders.
2). Science relies on real-life needs to motivate the arduous experimentation and repetition which leads to growth. When magical solutions exist for those real-life needs, the motivation falters, and scientists find other ways to spend their time. Nobody chooses the hard road when an easier road is also provided.
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
answered 1 hour ago
Henry Taylor
42.9k867155
42.9k867155
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Have incompatibilities between magic and large-scale (or often repeated) operations.
In our world, the increase in the rate of technological progress from 1700 to 1970 was closely associated with the accumulation of physical capital. Each new technology could be used to improve a larger amount of stuff than was available to the previous technology. Many of the new technologies only made sense in the context of "factories", "pipelines", and "industries".
If magic is inherently a "craft" that can only work on a few small things at a time, then the feedback loop will not get out of control.
For example, make magic increase inter-personal conflict.
If it is hard to have many people work together in a magical environment, magical factories and universities will not be practical. This will prevent the feedback loop. It also explains why so many plots (that are interesting to the author) involve magic.
Another example is to have magic users get bored easily, so they don't like repetitive work.
Or make magic work better in societies with very high marginal tax rates / very low savings rates.
Communism does not work in non-magical societies. But what if magic can make communism work well enough? Communism's high marginal tax rates will inhibit capital growth, and thus slow down the feedback loop.
answered 1 hour ago
Jasper
2,565924
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Have incompatibilities between magic and large-scale (or often repeated) operations.
In our world, the increase in the rate of technological progress from 1700 to 1970 was closely associated with the accumulation of physical capital. Each new technology could be used to improve a larger amount of stuff than was available to the previous technology. Many of the new technologies only made sense in the context of "factories", "pipelines", and "industries".
If magic is inherently a "craft" that can only work on a few small things at a time, then the feedback loop will not get out of control.
For example, make magic increase inter-personal conflict.
If it is hard to have many people work together in a magical environment, magical factories and universities will not be practical. This will prevent the feedback loop. It also explains why so many plots (that are interesting to the author) involve magic.
Another example is to have magic users get bored easily, so they don't like repetitive work.
Or make magic work better in societies with very high marginal tax rates / very low savings rates.
Communism does not work in non-magical societies. But what if magic can make communism work well enough? Communism's high marginal tax rates will inhibit capital growth, and thus slow down the feedback loop.
answered 1 hour ago
Jasper
2,565924
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Have incompatibilities between magic and large-scale (or often repeated) operations.
In our world, the increase in the rate of technological progress from 1700 to 1970 was closely associated with the accumulation of physical capital. Each new technology could be used to improve a larger amount of stuff than was available to the previous technology. Many of the new technologies only made sense in the context of "factories", "pipelines", and "industries".
If magic is inherently a "craft" that can only work on a few small things at a time, then the feedback loop will not get out of control.
For example, make magic increase inter-personal conflict.
If it is hard to have many people work together in a magical environment, magical factories and universities will not be practical. This will prevent the feedback loop. It also explains why so many plots (that are interesting to the author) involve magic.
Another example is to have magic users get bored easily, so they don't like repetitive work.
Or make magic work better in societies with very high marginal tax rates / very low savings rates.
Communism does not work in non-magical societies. But what if magic can make communism work well enough? Communism's high marginal tax rates will inhibit capital growth, and thus slow down the feedback loop.
answered 1 hour ago
Jasper
2,565924
Have incompatibilities between magic and large-scale (or often repeated) operations.
In our world, the increase in the rate of technological progress from 1700 to 1970 was closely associated with the accumulation of physical capital. Each new technology could be used to improve a larger amount of stuff than was available to the previous technology. Many of the new technologies only made sense in the context of "factories", "pipelines", and "industries".
If magic is inherently a "craft" that can only work on a few small things at a time, then the feedback loop will not get out of control.
For example, make magic increase inter-personal conflict.
If it is hard to have many people work together in a magical environment, magical factories and universities will not be practical. This will prevent the feedback loop. It also explains why so many plots (that are interesting to the author) involve magic.
Another example is to have magic users get bored easily, so they don't like repetitive work.
Or make magic work better in societies with very high marginal tax rates / very low savings rates.
Communism does not work in non-magical societies. But what if magic can make communism work well enough? Communism's high marginal tax rates will inhibit capital growth, and thus slow down the feedback loop.
answered 1 hour ago
Jasper
2,565924
edited 1 hour ago
answered 1 hour ago
Jasper
2,565924
answered 1 hour ago
Jasper
2,565924
answered 1 hour ago
Jasper
2,565924
2,565924
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
Seley is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Seley is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Seley is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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