Burrahobbit, if you are unable or unwilling to see the obvious distinction between a human’s ability of locomotion or reason and learned skills such as riding a horse, making shoes, designing websites, etc… then there’s no need to continue the discussion along those lines. How is orc draught a witch’s brew? Witch’s brews are usually whipped up in a cauldron, not drawn from barrels. Calling something a draught (or draft) is an obvious insinuation that it is an alcoholic beverage. Surely you don’t believe that employees at Anheiser-Bush wear black robes and pointed hats?
Iarwain, I do not disagree with you about varying degrees of natural ability. Equality does not exist in reality. On the other hand, natural abilities can be improved via habit. She who employs herself in activities that are physically demanding will improve her natural physical abilities of locomotion, dexterity or strength. Similarly, she who employs herself in mental activities will improve her natural ability to reason. The point I was attempting to make in context is that like learned skills, natural abilities can be improved. That doesn’t make them the same thing.
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There's also a learned aspect to Middle-earth magic, because this ability to manipulate reality is available to everyone if they only develop it.
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I wholeheartedly disagree with this. There is no indication from the corpus that hobbits can directly employ elven magic (making a magic blade as opposed to using one) or the magic native to the Istari. There is no indication from the corpus that the Dunlendings could eventually learn to use the Palantíri, or make lembas. However, if you can find a direct quote that supports this thesis, I’ll be more than willing to change my mind.
Salocin, the mention of virtue is provocative. However, virtue (in the classical sense) is not something that is granted, it is something that is practiced. Virtue is habit. Likewise, it does not explain the magical powers possessed by Melkor or Sauron or the balrog, unless we call their activities the practice of virtue.