How did Malfoy know that Harry was on the Train?
How did Malfoy know Harry was on the Train? In Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Harry suspects Malfoy has joined the Death Eaters and uses his Invisibility Cloak to spy on a compartment of Slytherins on the Hogwarts Express. When the train arrives, Malfoy knows Harry is spying, and uses “Petrificus Totalus” to curse him. But how did he know Harry was on the train in the first place?
We brought in renowned philosophers Martin Heidigger and Rene Descartes to weigh in on the question, and speculate about the nature of knowledge itself.
The Verdict: In this case, Malfoy's observations of Harry's foot catching in the door and his past experiences with Harry allowed him to recognize him on the train.
Heidegger: Well, Descartes, I believe that Malfoy knew Harry was on the train because he was present-at-hand. You see, for me, the world is made up of entities that are present-at-hand, meaning they are ready-to-hand and present in the world as a tool or object. In this case, Malfoy was aware of Harry's presence because he saw him with his own eyes, making Harry present-at-hand to him.
Descartes: But that doesn't explain how Malfoy knew it was Harry specifically. How did he identify him? For me, the key is in the cogito, the act of thinking. In order to know something, we must first be able to think about it. So, it stands to reason that Malfoy must have had some prior knowledge or idea of Harry in his mind in order to recognize him on the train.
Heidegger: Ah, but that is where you are wrong, Descartes. You see, for me, the act of knowing is not solely dependent on abstract thought, but also on our practical engagement with the world. It is not just the cogito, but also the being-in-the-world, or our embodied existence, that allows us to know and understand things. In this case, Malfoy's practical engagement with the wizarding world and his experiences with Harry in the past allowed him to recognize him on the train.
Descartes [raising his voice]: But how can you be sure of that? What if Malfoy simply saw someone who resembled Harry and assumed it was him without any prior knowledge or recognition? It seems to me that without the cogito, our understanding of the world would be nothing more than baseless assumptions.
Heidigger [scoffing]: OK then, take the fact that Draco saw Harry's foot catch in the door as he walked into the compartment under the invisibility cloak --
Descartes [interrupting in an angry tone]: Hold on a minute, Heidegger. I fail to see how that relates to our discussion. You can't just throw in unrelated details and expect them to support your argument. This is not a game of "gotcha," it is a philosophical discussion.
Heidigger [exasperating]: If you had let me finish, Descartes, you would see that I was making a point about how our practical engagement with the world allows us to know and understand things. In this case, Malfoy's observations of Harry's foot catching in the door and his past experiences with Harry allowed him to recognize him on the train, even without any prior abstract thought or idea. It is not just the cogito, but also the being-in-the-world that allows us to know and understand things.
Descartes [sighing]: I see your point, Heidegger, but I still disagree. It seems to me that without the cogito, our understanding of the world would be incomplete. Abstract thought and prior knowledge are crucial in identifying and understanding things.
Heidigger [storms out in a rage]: You are stuck in your narrow-minded Cartesian dualism, Descartes! You refuse to see the complexity of the world and the role of our practical engagement with it. Your reliance on the cogito is limiting and fails to capture the fullness of human experience. Good day to you, sir.
