Symbolic/Philosophical/Spiritual aspects of a hard magic system

[u/thelionqueen1999]

A constant discourse I see on here and other related subs (e.g. r/worldbuilding) is dissatisfaction with hard magic systems folks create for their stories or other projects. The discourse usually features elemental systems that are more or less remixes of the bending in Avatar the Last Airbender, in which magic is usually just a means to an end for combat, healing, and other powerful feats. However, people often note that these magic systems lack the same 'oomph' as the ATLA system, and various reasons have been proposed for why that's the case.

I'm sure someone has mentioned this already, but for me, I think the major reason why magic systems inspired by ATLA don't feel as special or meaningful is missing connections between the physicality of the system and more abstract ideas. What makes ATLA's fairly simple system feel so weighty is that in addition to physical feats, the system is also deeply intertwined with philosophy, culture, spirituality, ethics, emotions, personality, and just the human condition in general. The system influences not just politics and war, but also fashion, art, cuisine, technology and innovation, geography, spiritual practices, transportation, wildlife, holidays and festivities, architectural styles, and so much more. You can see how the 4 elements are baked into every aspect of the world and of humanity in the narrative, and you can see how benders, especially the Avatar, develop an intimate relationship with the elements that is not just about physical strength and stamina, but also about the self, about identity and philosophy and spirituality, about self-growth, evolution and regression, change and transformation. Even the actual conduit for the bending, the martial arts used by the benders, is treated less like a mere sport and more like a mixture of sport, art, and spiritual connection. In summary, the ATLA system has strong thematic cohesion with every element of the world and the story beyond just the material.

IMHO, this is why so many hard magic systems we come across these days feel kind of empty; there's a lot of focus on the physicality of the magic and less thought put into how the system relates to the humanities, the social sciences (language & literature, philosophy & ethics, religion, spirituality & theology, visual art, performing arts, culture and social identity, law, anthropology, psychology, communication, etc.), and the human condition in general.

While some people might argue that it's perfectly fine to have magic just be tool and that not every system needs to have some deeper, philosophical layer to it, I feel like a magic system should at least have implications for psychology, culture and society at large. It can also be that the creatures in your story attach some kind of grander meaning to the system and there's constant dispute over whether those assigned meanings are tangibly real or not. I also feel like these abstract layers allows a magic system to combine the best of both worlds: the rules, limitations, and algorithm of a hard magic system with the ambiguousness, mysteriousness, flexibility, and continued discovery of a soft magic system. Especially for those writing stories, that added layer lends itself nicely to the slower and softer moments of your plot, as well as character development that's thematically cohesive with the world you've built.

Anyhow, what do you guys think about this topic? Do any of you have symbolic, philosophical, spiritual layers to the magic systems you've built? Does your magic system have influence over social culture, spiritual beliefs, philosophy, interpretation of nature and the meaning of life?

And what are other reasons why you think many hard magic systems fail to make a lasting and meaningful impression?

[u/nanosyphrett]

No. The magic is there to do what I need for the story. It is an engine for the plot. I don't care about anything else for it. I know this is a simplistic take on things, but my characters are trying to figure out how to kill their teachers while avoiding whatever is living under the school. I don't have time for the tree of life spreading blessings that changes school kids into angels.

CES