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khafra comments on Asking Precise Questions - Less Wrong Discussion

6 Post author: paulfchristiano 03 January 2011 08:48AM

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Comment author: khafra 03 January 2011 10:32:07PM 0 points [-]

I cannot find it, but I once read a SF short even more closely related to this question. Rough plot synopsis: a space wayfarer encounters a mysterious, fabled oracle which will answer any question, but doesn't learn anything useful except that when you know precisely what question to ask, you're already most of the way to the answer.

Comment author: Blueberry 19 January 2011 10:29:44PM 2 points [-]

"Ask a Foolish Question" by Robert Sheckley, freely available on Project Gutenberg.

Sheckley is one of my favorite SF writers. His satire is up there with Twain.

Comment author: paulfchristiano 03 January 2011 11:20:01PM 1 point [-]

I have a hunch this isn't true. It took humans until the 20th century to formulate their first precise questions, but I think at some point we will pass a tipping point, where the scope of things you can describe precisely can be extended merely by answering precise questions.

Comment author: Clippy 03 January 2011 11:22:50PM -1 points [-]

Thanks, I'll see if I can earn USD this way.

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