Methodologies for the Study of Magic

In this episode of SHWEP, the host, Earl Fontainelle, introduces the complexities of studying magic, emphasizing the challenges in defining the term "magic" consistently. He discusses the etymology of the word, tracing it from Greek to Persian origins, and highlights the ambivalence and otherness associated with it. Fontainelle also delves into the distinction between first and second order terms (emic and etic), using the hypothetical "Ruperto-Stevian controversy" to illustrate the problems of using "magic" as a second-order term. He touches on the "magic versus religion" debate, particularly critiquing James George Fraser's essentialized distinction, and concludes by embracing the term "magic" despite its problematic nature, recognizing its richness and centrality to understanding various traditions, while also including a correction and expansion of his thoughts on Fraser from 2017, recorded in 2025.