| The question of whether dragons are real is a | | | | from Komodo dragons, or Dinosaurs, is magic. That is |
| difficult one, made complicated by the fact that we | | | | why so many dragons fly, or breathe fire, or cast |
| don’t really have a working definition of the | | | | spells. It is this impossible element that delineates the |
| word “dragon.” Everyone knows that it | | | | dragon from other members of the reptile family. |
| refers to some sort of large, scaly, reptilian creature; | | | | The weird thing is, it is this distinguishing quality, |
| however that is an apt description of a dinosaur. Is a | | | | magic, which makes it impossible for dragons to exist. |
| dinosaur a dragon? Many people do believe that the | | | | Magic is almost by definition something which is |
| bones of dinosaurs, found by ancient peoples, gave | | | | impossible. As soon as something becomes possible, it |
| rise to the belief in many of the large mythic beasts | | | | is no longer magic. |
| that were commonly believed in. | | | | The question that must be answered then is if a |
| However, most would agree that the term dragon | | | | species of reptile was found, that had wings, and |
| actually represents a mythical beast. The dinosaurs | | | | could somehow breathe fire, and it all operated |
| were a sub category unto themselves and have their | | | | according to real natural scientific law, would they be |
| own distinct place in the collective human imagination. | | | | dragons? Or upon discovery, would they immediately |
| But dragons are different, they are special, they are | | | | become just another species in the catalog of |
| secret. | | | | animals? |
| The essential quality of a dragon, which sets it apart | | | | |