[Avodah] Rationalism and supernaturalism

[kennethgmiller at juno.com]

R' Eli Turkel wrote:
> ... Rambam outlaws "magic shows" as kishuf while others define 
> kishuf as being "real black magic" as opposed to sleight of
> hand. However, Rambam could not hold this shita since on
> philosophical grounds he denies the existence of real magic ...

Can someone explain those "philosophical grounds" to me?

What did the Rambam say about the various gemaras that a person said the Shem Hemeforash and was able to fly in the air, or kill another person, or whatever. If one accepts the idea that white magic exists, isn't it inconsistent to deny black magic?

Akiva Miller