XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien   
   From: fwbrown@bellsouth.net   
      
   In alt.fan.tolkien Taemon  wrote:   
   > On 5-5-2014 5:50, Lewis wrote:   
   >> In message    
   >>    Taemon  wrote:   
   >>> On 30-4-2014 12:24, Ignatios Souvatzis wrote:   
   >>>> Steve Morrison wrote:   
   >>>>> But we never learn any more about the ?wizardry? which the   
   >>>>> Númenoreans used. in particular, we never learn whether it   
   >>>>> involved magic or just very advanced engineering.   
   >>>> Any sufficently advanced engineering is indistinguishable from magic.   
   >>> That's not true, actually.   
   >> Course it is, if it is sufficiently advanced.   
   >   
   > It can be explained, and it can be used by everyone. So, no.   
      
   If it can be explained, then it's not sufficiently advanced.   
      
   The word "sufficiently" makes it a tautology.  Essentially, it's saying,   
   "Any engineering that is advanced enough to be indistinguishable from   
   magic is indistinguishable from magic."   
      
   --   
   F. Wayne Brown    
      
   Þæs ofereode, ðisses swa mæg.  ("That passed away, this also can.")   
      from "Deor," in the Exeter Book (folios 100r-100v)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)