Let’s be very clear, “magic” exists in StarTrek, too: Q is literal god-level magic. There are telekinetics, empaths, and hiveminds. At least one species has the capacity to mentally create realistic illusions taken from a subject’s mind, while others will keep you trapped in your own nightmares for what feels like centuries. Hologram programs are solid and are, multiple times, shown to have the capacity to achieve sapience.
So, saying “in a universe where magic exists” belies the real difference: “in a universe where the explanation of phenomena is not a priority”
The giant space lasers are never explained, because their explanation would not suit the desires of the storytellers.
Ah, but unfortunately, the great Lucas, in his infinite, unquestioned wisdom, managed to establish that the force is ALSO simply a sufficiently-advanced evolutionary response to a pre-existing fundamental force of the universe, mediated by whatever the fuck “midichlorians” are supposed to be. You’re missing the rest of the quote, which is telling: “sufficiently-advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”. The bidirectional applies here: “magic is indistinguishable from sufficiently-advanced technology”.
You can’t draw a line. Just because the random layperson of Tattooine has no explanation for the force, doesn’t mean that there isn’t one. Just because we’re told that there are truths humans can’t comprehend which allow the Q to break every law of reality, that doesn’t mean that their powers appear or act in any way less-miraculous. The difference is that, in Star Wars, the genre of science fantasy demands the mysticism, while the science fiction of star trek demands an explicable nature, even if we don’t get all of the answers.
wolframhydroxide@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
Let’s be very clear, “magic” exists in StarTrek, too: Q is literal god-level magic. There are telekinetics, empaths, and hiveminds. At least one species has the capacity to mentally create realistic illusions taken from a subject’s mind, while others will keep you trapped in your own nightmares for what feels like centuries. Hologram programs are solid and are, multiple times, shown to have the capacity to achieve sapience.
So, saying “in a universe where magic exists” belies the real difference: “in a universe where the explanation of phenomena is not a priority”
The giant space lasers are never explained, because their explanation would not suit the desires of the storytellers.
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 1 month ago
That’s just sufficiently advanced technology.
I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Something, something, midi-chlorians.
There’s a lot of hand waving involved, but I feel like they’re at least fleshed out more than the wormhole aliens or the Caretakers.
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Those movies didn’t happen. La la la I can’t hear you.
wolframhydroxide@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
Ah, but unfortunately, the great Lucas, in his infinite, unquestioned wisdom, managed to establish that the force is ALSO simply a sufficiently-advanced evolutionary response to a pre-existing fundamental force of the universe, mediated by whatever the fuck “midichlorians” are supposed to be. You’re missing the rest of the quote, which is telling: “sufficiently-advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”. The bidirectional applies here: “magic is indistinguishable from sufficiently-advanced technology”.
You can’t draw a line. Just because the random layperson of Tattooine has no explanation for the force, doesn’t mean that there isn’t one. Just because we’re told that there are truths humans can’t comprehend which allow the Q to break every law of reality, that doesn’t mean that their powers appear or act in any way less-miraculous. The difference is that, in Star Wars, the genre of science fantasy demands the mysticism, while the science fiction of star trek demands an explicable nature, even if we don’t get all of the answers.
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 1 month ago
You just pulled “th bidirectional” out of your ass.