[CT] Question about Heinlein

[Dan Moran]

:-) You amuse me. One of the essays I'm writing for NPR is on Vernor
Vinge's Singularity - and I'm starting off with Heinlein's prediction,
which is why I'm doing this research. ("Research, noun: asking other
science fiction fans if they would please do it for me. Amen.")
 
-----Original Message-----
From: continuing-time-admin at ralf.org
[mailto:continuing-time-admin at ralf.org] On Behalf Of Dave Godwin
Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2003 6:35 PM
To: continuing-time at ralf.org
Subject: Re: [CT] Question about Heinlein
 
 
I believe Vernor Vinge followed the curve all the way up with his idea
of "The Singularity".
 
Dave
 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Jesse <mailto:jesse.wendel at bastardzen.org>  Wendel 
To: continuing-time at ralf.org 
Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2003 6:12 PM
Subject: RE: [CT] Question about Heinlein
 
In the paragraphs leading up to that quote, Heinlein talks about what he
calls the "curve of human achievement."  (There is also a graph.)  He
says, "But the proper way to project the curve is dotted line number
four - for there is no reason, mathematical, scientific, or historical,
to expect that curve to flatten out, or to reach a point of diminishing
returns, or simply to go on as a tangent.  The correct projection, by
all facts known today, is for the curve to go on up indefinitely with
increasing steepness."  ("Increasing" is in italics.)
 
Heinlein continues, "The timid little predictions earlier in this
article actually belong to curve one, or, at most, to curve two.  You
can count on the changes in the next fifty years at least eight times
(note: "eight times" in italics) as great as the changes of the past
fifty years.
 
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