Clarke's Three Laws

From Weekly I/O#47


When a distinguished elderly scientist states that something is possible, they are almost certainly right, but when they state something is impossible, they are probably wrong.

Article: Clarke's three laws

Science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke formulated the following three laws:

  1. When a distinguished elderly scientist states that something is possible, they are almost certainly right, but when they state something is impossible, they are probably wrong.
  2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
  3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Isaac Asimov has the corollary to Clarke's First Law:

"When, however, the lay public rallies round an idea that is denounced by distinguished but elderly scientists and supports that idea with great fervor and emotion — the distinguished but elderly scientists are then, after all, probably right."

I also like the inverse of the third law proposed by Gregory Benford:

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.


Want to learn 5 bite-sized cool things like this every week to understand the world better? Sign up below for my free weekly newsletter and learn together!

Weeklyio Banner

You might also like