On Sun, Aug 3, 2008 at 9:20 PM, Orvar Korvar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Off Topic: > > HARTZ, > > Regarding: > > "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. > Arthur C. Clarke" > > I once saw an elegant definition of magic. Isaac Asimov proposed that magic > can break the laws of physics, whereas advanced technology can not. In light > of that definition, that Clarke-statement is less optimal.
However, our understanding of the laws of physics is always expanding and being corrected as we make further discovery. There is a wonderful book by Douglas Hofstadter ( Godel Escher Bach ) in which he maps a diagram of the known versus the unknown as an escher-like figure over ground picture. That which we thing is "known" is in a state of flux and that which is "unknown" must also be in a state of flux because of this? Not true. We can expand the "unknown" regions without any increase in the "known". Advanced technology may simply be breaking the laws of physics or mathematics within our set of "known" laws without ever breeching those we do not yet know. Dennis Clarke _______________________________________________ opensolaris-discuss mailing list opensolaris-discuss@opensolaris.org
