How Does Magic Work？ Process Philosophy May Have an Answer

<p>What if the biggest problem with explaining magic is the question we keep asking: “How does it work?”</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, I explore Alfred North Whitehead’s process philosophy and what happens when we stop imagining reality as a collection of separate objects and instead understand it as a web of events, relations and processes of becoming.</p><p><br></p><p>We examine actual occasions, prehension, causal efficacy and the “fallacy of misplaced concreteness”, asking what these concepts might contribute to the philosophy of magic. Along the way, I consider ritual perception, participatory thinking, egregores and spirits, Tanya Luhrmann’s anthropology of presence, Stanley Tambiah’s theory of participation, and the important differences between Whiteheadian process theology and Iamblichus’ theurgy.</p><p><br></p><p>Does process philosophy prove that magic works? No. But it may expose some of the hidden metaphysical assumptions that make magic appear impossible before the evidence is even considered.</p><p><br></p><p>If you are interested in magic, Western esotericism, occult philosophy, ritual theory and the academic study of religion, this episode offers a rigorous alternative to both pseudo-quantum explanations and simplistic psychological reductionism.</p><p><br></p><p>CONNECT &amp; SUPPORT💖</p><p>MY COURSES 👩🏻‍🎓 https://drangelapuca.com/courses</p><p>WEBSITE 🔗 https://www.drangelapuca.com/</p><p>BOOK A TUTORING OR A LECTURE 📖https://drangelapuca.com/services</p><p>SUBSTACK ✉️ https://substack.com/@drangelapuca</p><p>BECOME MY PATRON! 🎩 https://www.patreon.com/angelapuca</p><p>SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI ☕️https://ko-fi.com/drangelapuca</p><p>ONE-OFF DONATIONS 💰 https://paypal.me/angelasymposium</p><p>JOIN MEMBERSHIPS 👥 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPSbip_LX2AxbGeAQfLp-Ig/join</p><p>MY PODCAST 🎙 https://open.spotify.com/show/2TKoWTGe6OKRokHN2zUIxM?si=dd9f50a734b14f86</p><p>MY MERCH 👕 https://drangelapuca.creator-spring.com/</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>FOLLOW ME👣</p><p><br></p><p>- YouTube (@drangelapuca)🌟</p><p>- SUBSTACK 💌 https://substack.com/@drangelapuca</p><p>- Instagram (@drangelapuca) 📸</p><p>- TikTok (@drangelapuca) 🎵</p><p>- Twitter (@angelapuca11) 🐦</p><p>- Facebook (Dr Angela Puca) 👥</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>RECOMMENDED READINGS 📖</p><p><br></p><p>REFERENCES 📚</p><p>(Check the related slide on screen)</p><p><br></p><p>MY SET-UP 🛠️</p><p>- Canon 90D camera 📸 https://amzn.to/3yQclh0</p><p>- Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/