Gelernter’s Law (and John Brockman’s merit)

Gelernter's First Law

Computers make people stupid.

Gelernter's Second Law

One expert is worth a million intellectuals. (This law is only approximate.)

Gelernter's Third Law

Scientists know all the right answers and none of the right questions.

(David Gelernter's answer to the 2004 edition of John Brockman's Annual Question on Edge.org: What's your Law?)

Note about John Brockman:

When you first read or hear about John Brockman, you immediatly start to feel intimidated by the gravitational force he is exercising in the contemporary intellectual world of the American Intelligentsia. I don't want to forestall the adventure in scribbling a litany of things he has done and is still doing and thereby preventing you to find out yourself who he is and if he's important to you. It is enough to remark that he's one of the amazing personalities, like TED's founder Richard S. Wurman, who are the chief editors of many intellectual public debates and through their activities are multipliers of ideas and people of interest today. A suggestion from my part for the 2014 Annual Question would be: How to revitalize and strengthen Democracy in our Digital Age? Insofar: Keep it up, Mr. Brockman!