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Reported on http://novysan.com/magic and confirmed here: http://www.media.mit.edu/about/academics/class-schedule
'When Aleister Crowley defined magic as “the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will,” he might as easily have been describing technology. In fact, “magic” is still the word we use to encompass the wonders of a new technology before it becomes ubiquitous. '
Course Description
"With a focus on the creation of functional prototypes and practicing real magical crafts, this class combines theatrical illusion, game design, sleight of hand, machine learning, camouflage, and neuroscience to explore how ideas from ancient magic and modern stage illusion can inform cutting edge technology. Students will learn techniques to improve the presentation, display, and interface of their projects as well as gaining a deeper understanding of the cultural traditions that shape user expectations of technology. Topics will include: Stage Illusion as Information Display, The Neuroscience of Misdirection, Magical Warfare: Camouflage and Deception, Magic Items and the Internet of Things, Computational Demonology, Ritual Magick as User Experience Design. Guest lecturers and representatives of Member companies will contribute to select project critiques. Requires regular reading, discussion, practicing magic tricks, design exercises, a midterm project and final project."
Uncle Al would have been so proud.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Arik on Friday February 06 2015, @04:59PM
That's not true. Modern herbalists are actually expected to have some knowledge of chemistry, and they know perfectly well why the bark works.
The biggest problem with chinese medicine is precisely that it does try to explain why it works, and the theory is incompatible with modern western A&P. Acupuncture still works shockingly well, however, and this is why you now see folks coming up with different theories to underlay the same clinical practice - dry needling.
And when you think about shamanistic/animistic medicine you should understand that in many cases with western medicine the effect of the 'real' medicine is actually less than the placebos contribution. The placebo affect can be incredibly powerful, and the most important skill for getting the most out of it is drama - not medicine. Shamans are typically better actors than doctors are. If a shaman also has a few 'real' tricks, like knowing which herbs produce useful drugs, and the symptoms for a few common ailments along with simple treatments for them, the patients might well derive significant benefit from the treatments.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?