Arthur Clarke’s death at the age of 9o prompts the opportunity to re-post his three laws, evolved between 1962 and 1973. They seem to have some relevance for futures:
- When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
- The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
- Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
the next wave
Hi Andrew
I looked at your blog because of the transition town book review. Great to see one of my other heroes mentioned here, Arthur C Clarke. The “indistinguishable from magic” is a quote I use myself. In 300 years time will people believe what we in this century are capable of? Or will they think we exaggerated. (compare – people who think the Apollo Moon landings were faked).
Jean