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Is "sorcerer" any more simplified than "philosopher"? They just seem to be two different things with perhaps slightly different meaning (or perhaps just stylist
by jjeaff 5y ago
Is "sorcerer" any more simplified than "philosopher"? They just seem to be two different things with perhaps slightly different meaning (or perhaps just stylistically different) between US and UK.
- gumby 5y agoYes because the philosopher’s stone is a particular (mythical) object whereas a sorcerer’s stone is merely a stone owned by a sorcerer (perhaps with some special powers or perhaps not). I presume the editors assumed that most uk kids would have heard of the philosopher’s stone while (so I have been told) the analysis was that American kids would see “philosopher” and say “yuck”. Out of curiosity which country are you from? Sounds like you haven’t heard of the philosopher’s stone — would be amused at the editors’ judgement if you turn out to be from the UK.
- jjeaff 5y agoI am from the US, and I did have to lookup what a philosopher's stone is. Though I don't know if I would agree that knowledge of such a fictional or mythological object is any more or less sophisticated, so much as a cultural difference in what types of fiction or mythology are more culturally common. I also don't know anything about what my "sign" is in astrology and I don't think that makes me less sophisticated than those who do. I just have different kinds of useless knowledge.