March 28, 2008

• Paradox #4.

  Magicians are some of the most adored and hated people on the planet.  They vex us beyond the reach of our imagination, dazzling our minds with their legerdemain.  We love them for how amazing their tricks are, but it is frustrating that their methods are obscured from us.

  We think their tricks are amazing, and want desperately to know how they are done.  But if we knew how they were done, then they would not be amazing to us anymore.  Therefore we arrive at a species of paradox based on desire.

  The hook of magic is that we don’t know how it’s done.  Therefore, our desire to know how the tricks are done is misplaced.  We think magic is amazing, but want to know how it’s done, in which case it wouldn’t be amazing anymore.  We want to know, but we don’t want to know, since that would ruin it.

  I suppose there is a second paradox here, because I really do hate and love magicians.  My reaction to the best tricks is simultaneously, “Wow! Awesome!” and “What?! How did you do that?!?” 

  Have a terrific evening!

  • 6:28 pm
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