How can we be moved by magic?

When engaging with magic, we are moved by seemingly impossible events that contradict what we believe to be possible in the real world. We are surprised, curious, and baffled when we cannot explain how the magic we are witnessing is possible. We generally understand the events to be illusions. But how is it possible to be moved by something we know to be unreal? This problem is related to the paradox of fiction in aesthetics. Here, we introduce the problem in the domain of theatrical magic, discuss possible solutions, and present a tentative account that allows us to accommodate inconsistent, seemingly incompatible beliefs at different representational levels in the viewers' mind.

Automated summary

When engaging with magic, we are often fascinated by seemingly impossible events that challenge our beliefs about what is possible in the real world. Despite understanding that these events are actually illusions, we can still be deeply moved by them. This problem relates to the paradox of fiction in aesthetics, and in the domain of theatrical magic, we need to address how to accommodate inconsistent and seemingly incompatible beliefs in the viewers' minds.