Clarke's Law: Difference between revisions

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'''Clarke's Law''' states that:
{{wikipediainfo}}
{{video|Technology and Magic Highlight - Episode 8 Doctor Who BBC America|thumb|The [[Thirteenth Doctor]] quotes Clarke's Law. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Witchfinders (TV story)|The Witchfinders]]'')}}
'''Clarke's Law''' stated, "Any sufficiently advanced form of technology is indistinguishable from magic." ([[TV]]: ''[[Battlefield (TV story)|Battlefield]]'')


::''Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.''
[[The Captain]] paraphrased this by explaining that his now-wrecked craft had possessed technologies "indistinguishable from magic." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pirate Planet (TV story)|The Pirate Planet]]'')


To use but one example, the [[Sycorax]] thought of [[blood control]] as form of sorcery and [[Tenth Doctor|the Doctor]] as a user of [[witchcraft]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion]]'')
The [[Seventh Doctor]] reminded [[Ace]] of Clarke's Law and stated that "the reverse is true", as was the case of the [[Thirteen Worlds]], a parallel universe where technology formed alongside magic. ([[TV]]: ''[[Battlefield (TV story)|Battlefield]]'')


[[Seventh Doctor|The Doctor]] reminded [[Ace]] of Clarke's Law and stated that "the reverse is also true". ([[DW]]: ''[[Battlefield (TV story)|Battlefield]]'').
When asked by the [[Tenth Doctor]] on how the [[Sisters of Plenitude]] cured [[Petrifold Regression]], [[Casp|Matron Casp]] responded "primitive species would accuse us of magic, bit it's merely the tender application of science". ([[TV]]: ''[[New Earth (TV story)|New Earth]]'')


[[The Captain (Pirate Planet)|The Captain]] paraphrased this by describing now-wrecked craft had posessed technologies "indistinguishable from magic" ([[DW]]: ''[[The Pirate Planet]]'').
When [[Angelo Colasanto]] believed Captain [[Jack Harkness]]' [[Jack Harkness' vortex manipulator|vortex manipulator]] to be magic, Jack corrected him saying it was technology, although the two could be indistinguishable. ([[TV]]: ''[[Immortal Sins (TV story)|Immortal Sins]]'')


==Note==
The [[Twelfth Doctor]] paraphrased the law to [[Clara Oswald]] when stating how he would impress a [[Viking]] village with a [[Yo-yo]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Girl Who Died (TV story)|The Girl Who Died]]'')


This principle often gets quoted as a singular statement. In fact, [[Wikipediainfo|Arthur C. Clarke]] made it the third of three laws concerning predicting the future.
The [[Thirteenth Doctor]] quoted the law to [[King]] [[James I]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Witchfinders (TV story)|The Witchfinders]]'')


{{Wikipediainfo|Clarke's Law}}
== Behind the scenes ==
In the real world, this is actually [[Arthur C. Clarke]]'s Third Law.


[[Category:Theories and Concepts]]
[[Category:Concepts]]
[[Category:Real World Science]]
[[Category:Science from the real world]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Magic]]

Latest revision as of 19:54, 19 February 2024

Clarke's Law
The Thirteenth Doctor quotes Clarke's Law. (TV: The Witchfinders)

Clarke's Law stated, "Any sufficiently advanced form of technology is indistinguishable from magic." (TV: Battlefield)

The Captain paraphrased this by explaining that his now-wrecked craft had possessed technologies "indistinguishable from magic." (TV: The Pirate Planet)

The Seventh Doctor reminded Ace of Clarke's Law and stated that "the reverse is true", as was the case of the Thirteen Worlds, a parallel universe where technology formed alongside magic. (TV: Battlefield)

When asked by the Tenth Doctor on how the Sisters of Plenitude cured Petrifold Regression, Matron Casp responded "primitive species would accuse us of magic, bit it's merely the tender application of science". (TV: New Earth)

When Angelo Colasanto believed Captain Jack Harkness' vortex manipulator to be magic, Jack corrected him saying it was technology, although the two could be indistinguishable. (TV: Immortal Sins)

The Twelfth Doctor paraphrased the law to Clara Oswald when stating how he would impress a Viking village with a Yo-yo. (TV: The Girl Who Died)

The Thirteenth Doctor quoted the law to King James I. (TV: The Witchfinders)

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

In the real world, this is actually Arthur C. Clarke's Third Law.