(May 22, 2016 at 2:37 am)robvalue Wrote: Magic. It's magic, isn't it. Let's at least be honest.
My personal definition for a supernatural agent is one that can act upon our reality (nature) but which our reality cannot act upon in return. It has a one-way effect. The term is relative. For example, if I create an artificial reality using a computer program, I am supernatural with respect to any manifestation of that reality that may occur.
My definition is subjective to particular realities, but not dependent on knowledge. I find the latter to be both redundant and dishonest.
Magic is not the right word. It connotes either 1) a person harnessing or directing supernatural forces to achieve his/her goal or 2) illusions or tricks to make someone believe something that is not true. I would not characterize a miracle that way.