Tevinter and Rivain: A Tale of Two Magocracies.
Nov 21, 2018 14:17:37 GMT
tatarforas and Sokemis like this
Post by lilyonce on Nov 21, 2018 14:17:37 GMT
Part One:
"Scientific thought is essentially power-thought-- the sort of thought, that is to say, whose purpose, conscious or unconscious, is to give power to its possessor."-- Bertrand Russell.
In another thread there was some discussion about the quality of Tevinter's magic education. There was near universal agreement that Tevinter's education is superior to that of any other tradition-- and this is mainly because Tevinter just knows more magic than everybody else. They know more powerful magic too. They could really tame and harness nature and set up a comfortable human existence for everybody if they just applied their magic to noble purpose and not to greed. The other magical traditions in Thedas are cool but they don't really have it like Tevinter. Most of them don't even study magic scientifically. The Circle approaches it that way but the Chantry just holds them back from the real stuff in the end. They haven't mastered mind control like Tevinter and they could never even attempt to map the Fade or make it to the Golden City. Even if these things are bad (which they may not be), that Tevinter has knowledge of magic like this is what counts. They have the potential to do amazing, super human, god-like things and no one else really does-- but if everybody got this same education they could do amazing things too and Thedas would be better off. That was the opinion as it came across to me.
I want to argue that by looking at both Tevinter and Rivain it can be seen that Tevinter's imperialism and culture of domination is inseparable from its magic tradition. That what we mean when we talk about Tevinter's magic education is power-thought-- and what we mean when we say its better than other training is that it gives its students the ability to manipulate and control on a scale or in ways others don't. I want to argue that Tevinter education trains its mages to be masters of the universe and that Tevinter magocracy, empire, slavery, and darkspawn inevitably follow from this education. I want to argue that Tevinter education actually isn't superior. That this magic tradition will not lead to a better Thedas in the end.
This is a tale of two magocracies because I consider Rivain to be a magocracy-- if magocracy is just mages being in charge. Seers hold senior leadership positions in traditional Riviani government. Its like Tevinter in this way but their magocracy is the opposite of Tevinter's. Their culture is way different from Tevinter's-- and so is their magic. A comparison will also help make clear what I think Tevinter magic is, the problems with it, and what I think a good magic education might look like.
Rivain is a matriarchy. They make sure everyone has their needs met and promote community or individuality. They have a currency but don't really care about it and prefer to operate outside markets. They believe in the "Natural Order". They're pantheists and don't see themselves as separate from god who is identical to the universe (and so aren't separate from nature or each other). Their magic focuses on communion with spirits and not, as in Tevinter it would, spirit binding. Where magic comes from in their view isn't blood (like Tevinter emphasizes, breeds around, and practices blood magic for) but rather, magic is result of faith, will, and even other beings and there isn't a reason to believe they're wrong about this. And if the DA wiki is correct the Rivaini hedge mages may even be incapable of learning to do magic like Tevinter's. "Once becoming a hedge mage, there is no turning back – they cannot learn and cast spells as normal mages know them". "Normal" being Tevinter and the Circle, which model its structure and magic on Tevinter's. Rivaini magic is also inseparable from Rivaini culture.
I can't write it all in one post and maybe I shouldn't anyway. I'll dig in with part two if there is some interest in talking about any of this.
"Scientific thought is essentially power-thought-- the sort of thought, that is to say, whose purpose, conscious or unconscious, is to give power to its possessor."-- Bertrand Russell.
In another thread there was some discussion about the quality of Tevinter's magic education. There was near universal agreement that Tevinter's education is superior to that of any other tradition-- and this is mainly because Tevinter just knows more magic than everybody else. They know more powerful magic too. They could really tame and harness nature and set up a comfortable human existence for everybody if they just applied their magic to noble purpose and not to greed. The other magical traditions in Thedas are cool but they don't really have it like Tevinter. Most of them don't even study magic scientifically. The Circle approaches it that way but the Chantry just holds them back from the real stuff in the end. They haven't mastered mind control like Tevinter and they could never even attempt to map the Fade or make it to the Golden City. Even if these things are bad (which they may not be), that Tevinter has knowledge of magic like this is what counts. They have the potential to do amazing, super human, god-like things and no one else really does-- but if everybody got this same education they could do amazing things too and Thedas would be better off. That was the opinion as it came across to me.
I want to argue that by looking at both Tevinter and Rivain it can be seen that Tevinter's imperialism and culture of domination is inseparable from its magic tradition. That what we mean when we talk about Tevinter's magic education is power-thought-- and what we mean when we say its better than other training is that it gives its students the ability to manipulate and control on a scale or in ways others don't. I want to argue that Tevinter education trains its mages to be masters of the universe and that Tevinter magocracy, empire, slavery, and darkspawn inevitably follow from this education. I want to argue that Tevinter education actually isn't superior. That this magic tradition will not lead to a better Thedas in the end.
This is a tale of two magocracies because I consider Rivain to be a magocracy-- if magocracy is just mages being in charge. Seers hold senior leadership positions in traditional Riviani government. Its like Tevinter in this way but their magocracy is the opposite of Tevinter's. Their culture is way different from Tevinter's-- and so is their magic. A comparison will also help make clear what I think Tevinter magic is, the problems with it, and what I think a good magic education might look like.
Rivain is a matriarchy. They make sure everyone has their needs met and promote community or individuality. They have a currency but don't really care about it and prefer to operate outside markets. They believe in the "Natural Order". They're pantheists and don't see themselves as separate from god who is identical to the universe (and so aren't separate from nature or each other). Their magic focuses on communion with spirits and not, as in Tevinter it would, spirit binding. Where magic comes from in their view isn't blood (like Tevinter emphasizes, breeds around, and practices blood magic for) but rather, magic is result of faith, will, and even other beings and there isn't a reason to believe they're wrong about this. And if the DA wiki is correct the Rivaini hedge mages may even be incapable of learning to do magic like Tevinter's. "Once becoming a hedge mage, there is no turning back – they cannot learn and cast spells as normal mages know them". "Normal" being Tevinter and the Circle, which model its structure and magic on Tevinter's. Rivaini magic is also inseparable from Rivaini culture.
I can't write it all in one post and maybe I shouldn't anyway. I'll dig in with part two if there is some interest in talking about any of this.
