October 18, 2006
Malarky and bunkum
These predictions about human species divergence are just plain ridiculous. I mean does anyone actually believe this stuff?
John Hawks passes on this quote by Asimov:
And writes a rather strong entry about Dr. Oliver Curry's predictions of humanity's future. Though I don't necessarily think that mankind has managed to fully evade those things that make natural selection work, I do think that many of his points are right on. I mean, I enjoyed The Time Machine by H.G. Wells as much as any other sci/fi novel loving nerd, but to think that something like that would actually happen is a bit silly. The Time Machine should be read as a commentary on 19th century culture and society not as a prediction of 31st century reality.
John Hawks passes on this quote by Asimov:
The Relativity of Wrong (Doubleday, 1988): "When people thought the earth was flat, they were wrong. When people thought the earth was spherical, they were wrong. But if you think that thinking the earth is spherical is just as wrong as thinking the earth is flat, then your view is wronger than both of them put together."
And writes a rather strong entry about Dr. Oliver Curry's predictions of humanity's future. Though I don't necessarily think that mankind has managed to fully evade those things that make natural selection work, I do think that many of his points are right on. I mean, I enjoyed The Time Machine by H.G. Wells as much as any other sci/fi novel loving nerd, but to think that something like that would actually happen is a bit silly. The Time Machine should be read as a commentary on 19th century culture and society not as a prediction of 31st century reality.
// posted by Julie @ 11:49 AM 
