Clarke’s Three Laws are aphorisms by science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke about science, technology and prediction. Short version plus what they mean:
1) “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.”
- Meaning: experts can judge feasibility well, but claiming impossibility is risky — history shows many “impossibilities” later became reality (e.g. powered flight, space travel, computers).
- Use: be cautious about absolute “never” claims.
2) “The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.”
- Meaning: progress comes from trying what seems impossible; experimentation and bold ideas expand the frontier of what’s doable.
- Use: motivates research, prototyping and risk-taking.
3) “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
- Meaning: tech far beyond your understanding will appear miraculous; gaps in explanation make advanced devices seem supernatural.
- Use: explains how future tech or very different cultures’ tech can be misinterpreted.
Notes: these aren’t scientific laws, just useful heuristics and storytelling tools. They encourage humility about claims of impossibility and respect for how unfamiliar tech looks to those who don’t understand it.
