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Isaac Asimov wrote a corollary to Clarke's First Law, stating "When, however, the lay public rallies round an idea that is denounced by distinguished but elder
by khafra 18y ago
Isaac Asimov wrote a corollary to Clarke's First Law, stating
"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." - Wikipedia article on Clarke's 3 laws
Just because it seems impractical today doesn't mean it will soon be possible; the great ideas that were scoffed at remain fresh in the memory because the geometrically more numeric unworkable ideas have faded into obscurity. Plus it's impossible--I mean, c'mon, focusing the entire 31-year energy output of the Milky Way?
- geuis 18y agoAlso quoted: "In 'Against the Fall of Night' the human race has mysteriously regressed after a full billion years of civilization. Humanity is faced with the remnants of its past glories: for example, a network of roads and sidewalks that flow like rivers. Although physically possible, it is inexplicable from their perspective. Clarke's Third Law explains the source of our amazement as our limitation, rather than the impossibility of the technology." Another counter-argument to your quote is that "distinguished but elderly scientists" very publicly claimed it was impossible to fly, as late as 1904. Some even proclaimed this after the Wright brothers had done it. As for the amount of energy, that is an estimate based on this very early design hypothesis. It points us in the right direction to continue research, but does not necessitate there will not be much more energy efficient ways to power such a device.