Virtual Magic: Animism, Metamorphosis and Syncretism in Experiencing and Reflecting on Second Life and Virtual Reality

Abstract: This article argues that, in experiences of and reflections on virtual reality in general and Second Life in particular, one can observe certain traces of a type of thinking most frequently referred to as "magic" or "magical thinking." After a brief discussion of what magic is, this paper examines several empirical studies of various experiences in Second Life and explores certain philosophical reflections on virtual reality. The empirical scholarship engaged includes both qualitative studies by cultural anthropologists and quantitative studies by psychologists, while the philosophical reflections are focused on The Onlife Manifesto, a theoretical proposal for rethinking the status of virtual reality. Examination of these sources makes it possible to identify typical elements of magic, such as animism, metamorphosis, and syncretism, in the aforementioned context. Finally, the article argues that the presence of magic is part of the re-enchantment of the world.