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Dadoo · Mar 28, 2005, 01:50 pm

What question cannot be answered?

tman_ndsu08 · Mar 28, 2005, 02:08 pm

The fact that the question you're asking is within a defined set of possible responces (assuming you limit the length of the response to a finite number of characters) means that the answer is outside that set and thus outside your comprehension.

Here's another way to look at it: lets say you have word processor program that can hold a finite number of characters. Let's call that number infinity naught (Io for short). Io is an incomprehendably large number but it is finite, unlike infinity. That means that for every character there exists only the number of inputs that exist on your keyboard (for simplicity let's just say that they are the 26 english letters, 10 arabic numerals, the space bar, plus 63 or so logical operaters). That means that for a paper that holds Io characters there are 100^Io possible papers. Most of those are gibberish. But for the few that aren't, they hold every possible knowable fact that will ever be able to be defined by our language.

So, if there is such a thing as knowledge that exists outside our comprehention it's because it can't be defined by our language.

orgaelin · Mar 29, 2005, 06:03 pm

One that hasn't been asked.

Samildanach · Mar 30, 2005, 11:20 am

That depends on whether the question you havent asked can be formulated from other questions.
For example I might not have asked "Is it cloudy today?" however I may not need to because I can ask several other questions that tell me it is cloudy via elimination so the unasked question gets answered anyway.

Samildanach · Mar 30, 2005, 11:21 am

A question that cannot be answered is asked in a language that no one understands.

LogicaLunatic · Mar 30, 2005, 01:26 pm

I'd have to say that the question in the first post is the one that can't be answered.

tman_ndsu08 · Mar 30, 2005, 02:06 pm

Quote:

Quote by: LogicaLunatic

I'd have to say that the question in the first post is the one that can't be answered.

I gave him an answer.

LogicaLunatic · Mar 30, 2005, 02:40 pm

True, I suppose the question doesn't specify whether the answer is correct or not.

orgaelin · Mar 30, 2005, 05:20 pm

A question can be answered to someone else... like John might ask if it is cloudy today and get his answer, while Jim is in solitary confinement and can't even ask, let alone get an answer. So for one it can be answered and for another it can't.

So that makes it a little more confusing!

~ Org.

Dadoo · Mar 31, 2005, 01:50 pm

Indeed!
And moreso...
If a question remains perennially unasked,
does it exist; can it be answered?

Thank you for your insights.
This is not a riddle per se,

-the logical end of this thought progression calls into question
questions themselves.

Mar 28, 2005, 01:50 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
Dadoo Pure Energy Posts: 440	Before eulogizing, ponder: What question cannot be answered? Nothing is unknown.

Mar 28, 2005, 02:08 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
tman_ndsu08 BANNED Posts: 5,021	The fact that the question you're asking is within a defined set of possible responces (assuming you limit the length of the response to a finite number of characters) means that the answer is outside that set and thus outside your comprehension. Here's another way to look at it: lets say you have word processor program that can hold a finite number of characters. Let's call that number infinity naught (Io for short). Io is an incomprehendably large number but it is finite, unlike infinity. That means that for every character there exists only the number of inputs that exist on your keyboard (for simplicity let's just say that they are the 26 english letters, 10 arabic numerals, the space bar, plus 63 or so logical operaters). That means that for a paper that holds Io characters there are 100^Io possible papers. Most of those are gibberish. But for the few that aren't, they hold every possible knowable fact that will ever be able to be defined by our language. So, if there is such a thing as knowledge that exists outside our comprehention it's because it can't be defined by our language. Last edited by tman_ndsu08; Mar 28, 2005 at 02:12 pm.

Mar 29, 2005, 06:03 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
orgaelin Igneous Magma Location: Midlands UK Posts: 720	One that hasn't been asked. "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

Mar 30, 2005, 11:20 am	#4 (permalink) (top)
Samildanach Pragmatist Location: UK London Posts: 1,979	That depends on whether the question you havent asked can be formulated from other questions. For example I might not have asked "Is it cloudy today?" however I may not need to because I can ask several other questions that tell me it is cloudy via elimination so the unasked question gets answered anyway. I wouldn't recommend sex, drugs and insanity for everyone, but its always worked for me. Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime." (Ernest Hemingway)

Mar 30, 2005, 11:21 am	#5 (permalink) (top)
Samildanach Pragmatist Location: UK London Posts: 1,979	A question that cannot be answered is asked in a language that no one understands. I wouldn't recommend sex, drugs and insanity for everyone, but its always worked for me. Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime." (Ernest Hemingway)

Mar 30, 2005, 01:26 pm	#6 (permalink) (top)
LogicaLunatic Hrm... Location: MN Posts: 445	I'd have to say that the question in the first post is the one that can't be answered. "Statistics show that of those who contract the habit of eating, very few survive." -- Wallace Irwin

Mar 30, 2005, 02:40 pm	#8 (permalink) (top)
LogicaLunatic Hrm... Location: MN Posts: 445	True, I suppose the question doesn't specify whether the answer is correct or not. "Statistics show that of those who contract the habit of eating, very few survive." -- Wallace Irwin

Mar 30, 2005, 05:20 pm	#9 (permalink) (top)
orgaelin Igneous Magma Location: Midlands UK Posts: 720	A question can be answered to someone else... like John might ask if it is cloudy today and get his answer, while Jim is in solitary confinement and can't even ask, let alone get an answer. So for one it can be answered and for another it can't. So that makes it a little more confusing! ~ Org. "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

Mar 31, 2005, 01:50 pm	#10 (permalink) (top)
Dadoo Pure Energy Posts: 440	No ask, No tell Indeed! And moreso... If a question remains perennially unasked, does it exist; can it be answered? Thank you for your insights. This is not a riddle per se, -the logical end of this thought progression calls into question questions themselves. Nothing is unknown. Last edited by Dadoo; Mar 31, 2005 at 01:53 pm.