ABSTRACT
Modern societies are usually perceived as ones in which scientific and technological rationality prevail so thoroughly as to yield no place to magical thought and behaviour. Magical beliefs and behaviour, while by no means confined to ‘primitive’ or tribal societies, have been studied in most detail largely by anthropologists working in this type of society. Magical practices are often closely related to religious beliefs and are frequently a part of religious rituals. A general point to note about magic is that the concept is, of course, one which belongs to a particular cultural tradition which other cultures may or may not share. John Beattie argues that magical beliefs and rituals must be interpreted as essentially symbolic in nature — as expressive acts and sentiments. In his view, magic is not fundamentally the application of empirical techniques which the actors believe will work but which in fact do not.
