Magic Versus Science: Difference between revisions

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== Anime and Manga ==

* In ''[[Tweeny Witches|Teeny Witches]]'' magic is represented by the female witches and science by the male "warlocks", who hardly use magic at all (there's one real warlock, and he's very old). The two communities became divided and now witches only go to the warlocks' fortress if they're seeking children or if they've been cast out of Witchhaven. It seems that this split has stagnated both groups: the witches technology hasn't really advanced past the dirigible, and while it appears that the warlocks live in a [[Neon Genesis Evangelion|man-made underground cavern of plenty]] all their technology mainly used for amusement or oppression. {{spoiler|The two groups get back together in the end.}}

* This is the premise of the setting of ''[[~~To Aru Majutsu no Index|~~A Certain Magical Index]]'' and its [[Spin-Off]] ''[[~~To Aru Kagaku no Railgun|~~A Certain Scientific Railgun]]'', with a secret [[Cold War]] going on between the two factions. Magic is secret and controlled by religion while science is public. Oddly, [[Psychic Powers]] are classified as scientific even though they share the category "supernatural" with magic in this setting and tend to break all known laws of physics, due to being widely accepted and studied (most espers know exactly what laws their power breaks and how to make the most of that).

* This is the premise of the setting of ''[[A Certain Magical Index]]'' and its [[Spin-Off]] ''[[A Certain Scientific Railgun]]'', with a secret [[Cold War]] going on between the two factions. Magic is secret and controlled by religion while science is public. Oddly, [[Psychic Powers]] are classified as scientific even though they share the category "supernatural" with magic in this setting and tend to break all known laws of physics, due to being widely accepted and studied (most espers know exactly what laws their power breaks and how to make the most of that).

** Of note, esper abilities require mental training to define a "personal reality" where their power can function, while magic-users instead call on the realities of supernatural beings. As a result, using magic can injure or kill an esper.

** Oddly enough, the leader of the scientific side used to be one of the leaders of the magic side. This defection is one of the main reasons the magic side has it in for the scientific side.

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* This is an explicit divide in the [[Nasuverse]], as true Magic is literally "what science and technology cannot accomplish" (ie. a miracle) and its actual power is proportional to how mysterious and obscure it is. [[Functional Magic|Magecraft]] sits in the middle as the "artificial reenactment of miracles"; the science or methodology of magic.

** In ''[[Fate/Zero]]'', it is shown that elder magi don't like to rely on technology (despite a character from the ''[[Fate/stay night]]'' stating that it is more efficient than magecraft). One of the protagonists uses this for maximum effect, complementing his comparatively poor magecraft with sniper rifles and landmines.

*** In ''[[Kara no Kyoukai:~~|Kara no Kyoukai~~]]'', Touko states that mages believe that even ''explaining'' how their own particular brand of magic works weakens it. ("Mystery" and "Weird" used to be far stronger words than they are now.) Whether this is true or not isn't shown.

*** In ''[[Kara no Kyoukai:]]'', Touko states that mages believe that even ''explaining'' how their own particular brand of magic works weakens it. ("Mystery" and "Weird" used to be far stronger words than they are now.) Whether this is true or not isn't shown.

* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh (anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh]]'', Yami Yugi is the Magic to Seto Kaiba's Science. Yami Yugi uses a deck of Warrior, Spellcaster and Fiend type monsters, is the spirit of an ancient Egyptian king inside a magical necklace, and believes in destiny. Kaiba by contrast uses a deck of Dragons and Machines, is the designer of the holographic technology that most duelists rely on, and says [[Screw Destiny]]. Kaiba also has absolutely no interest in the magic of the series, though it gets exaggerated in the dub into outright denial that magic exists.

* In ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'', the primary conflict is between the Angels (Supernatural, eldritch beings from beyond mortal ken) and NERV (Who take supernatural eldritch beings from beyond mortal ken and do SCIENCE to them). [[Gainax Ending|The winner is...well...]]

** That's because the "winner" is the emotional turmoil of the real Creator of the Universe, who suffers one of the most infamous Creator Breakdowns in all of anime history.

* ''[[Magic Users Club]]'' has ultra-tech aliens versus high-tech humanity; even with [[Kill Sat|KillSats]], [[Curb Stomp Battle|the obvious happens]]. They even get bonus points for not having sound in space. Then a Japanese high school club uses [[Magic A Is Magic A|magic]] against them and they run away.

== [[Comic Books]] ==

* The 1980s toy tie in comic ''[[ROM Spaceknight]]'' plays with the standard moral and power positions with the magic based aliens being brain eating borderline demons, while the hero is an alien cyborg who fights them with technology. There's even a "Hall of Science" on his homeworld.

* The 1980s toy tie in comic ''[[ROM Spaceknight]]'' plays with the standard moral and power positions with the magic-based aliens being brain-eating borderline demons, while the hero is an alien cyborg who fights them with technology. There's even a "Hall of Science" on his homeworld.

* [[Spider-Man (Comic Book)|Spider-Man]] versus Morlun. While Spidey's powers are based on "totemic spirits" (read: magic), they weren't helping that much against Morlun. So he beats Morlun with ''radiation''. After checking some of Morlun's blood under a microscope.

** It's ironic that some fans disliked JMS introducing magic into Spidey's origin, overlooking this important part in the storyline where Spidey uses science to beat magic. As Spidey told Morlun, it did not matter whether or not the spider was a mystic spider fated to bite him: the radiation made all the difference. The conclusion to the Ezekial arc, "The Book of Ezekial", suggests that the basis of his powers is scientific, but he was "destined" to have them.

*** Of course, [[One More Day|none of it happened now]].

* As for [[Iron Man]], he treats magic as a form of science he admits that he does not understand. Furthermore, if you try attacking him with magic spells, don't get your hopes up since this [[Gadgeteer Genius]] is often able to counter anything you throw at him with his technology.

* When [[Black Adam]] (about as powerful as [[Superman]], but with no [[Kryptonite Factor]]) {{spoiler|goes on a [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge]]}} in ''[[52]]'' he goes after the [[Mad Scientist]]s on Oolong Island {{spoiler|after he killed the Four Horsemen}}. Most of the Mad Scientists are understandably freaking out. Then Black Adam easily plows through their defenses. Then one of the Mad Scientists gives the others a pep talk. And then {{spoiler|the Mad Scientists ''kick Black Adam's ass''. They blind him, time freeze him, give him a tesseract concussion, beat and pour acid on him, and give him artificial spacticity in less than a minute}}. Science won hands down this time.

** [[The Worf Effect|It really shouldn't have]] but it did.

** One of the scientists had stolen a machine from the future that, in his words, tries to open up an empty space the size of a football stadium inside Black Adam's skull. Thank Ra it only have one charge.