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Science

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At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Hogwarts Legacy & Harry Potter: Magic Awakened & Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells & Harry Potter: Wizards Unite & Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.
As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

Mirror of Erised.jpeg "Is this all real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"

The topic of this article is of a real-life subject that has been mentioned "in-universe" in a canon source. The Harry Potter Wiki is written from the perspective that all information presented in canon is true (e.g., Hogwarts really existed), and, as such, details contained in this article may differ from real world facts.

Science refers to the study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation, identification, description and experimental investigation in order to form of testable explanations and predictions about how it operates.[1]

Science in the wizarding world

Wizards and witches studied science, along with Muggles. Severus Snape, a former Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry described the art of potion-making as a subtle science to a first-year Potions class on 2 September 1991.[2] Wizards also studied other sciences, such as Astronomy (the study of stars and planets),[2] Herbology (the study of magical plants and fungi),[2] Magizoology (the study of magical creatures)[3] and Meteorology (the study of weather).[4][5]

Wizards also studied Muggle science. In August 1993, a wizard in the Leaky Cauldron read a copy of A Brief History of Time written by the Muggle scientist Stephen Hawking.[6] During the Calamity in the 21st century, Myra Curio recommended members of the Statute of Secrecy Task Force read a scientific tome written by a famous Muggle physicist, which was apparently entirely false, but applying the opposite of his theories could help them improve their spell casting.[7]

Some wizards were also known to be interested in Muggle technology out of curiosity, although they had no inherent use of them, such as television, wireless, and household appliances, along with the internet.[8]

Transfiguration, a type of magic, was regarded as "very hard work" and was said to be "more scientific" than charms-work, as one had to get it exactly right for the transfiguration to be successful.[9]

Behind the scenes

  • Magic within the Harry Potter universe was certainly treated like a science (or at least a pseudo-science). Wizards and witches conducted all sorts of experiments with their magic, and all magic schools taught a systematic approach to magic, similar to Muggle sciences. However, by both their definitions (at least in Harry Potter), magic was not a science.

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. ↑ WP favicon.PNG Science on Wikipedia
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 8 (The Potions Master)
  3. ↑ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  4. ↑ Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (Calamity Essentials III: WENDY WUNDERWIND)
  5. ↑ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 38 (Meeting the Merqueen) - Astronomy Lesson "Space Weather"
  6. ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) - Chapter 4 (The Leaky Cauldron)
  7. ↑ Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (Calamity Essentials III: A BRIEF HISTORY OF MAGIC. "Myra Curio advises reading a scientific tome written by a famous Muggle physicist. Everything the muggle says is patently false, but applying the EXACT opposite of his theories improves your casting."
  8. ↑ Writing by J.K. Rowling: "Technology" at Wizarding World
  9. ↑ J.K. Rowling at the Royal Albert Hall, 26 June 2003
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