Ask a Foolish Question (Alien Technology SF Audiobook) by Robert Sheckley, Science Fiction

If Answerer knows everything, what are its limits?
The Answerer, a machine geared to produce the ultimate revelations in reference to anything asked, is questioned by a primitive bi-pedal species.
Published 1953 ~ Science Fiction Stories

[@joeweekley3336]

Now I know where Douglas Adams got 'the answer is 42'... now figure out the question.

[@ronway7280]

Well read. Nice story.Ask the Answerer what you should be asking when it says you have asked an invalid question. You may have to start from the top of the knowledge heap and work your way down and then read your notes from the bottom up to understand the conversation, but you can get the answers. ;)

[@mygaffer]

To come up with a solution is to miss the point of the story.

[@ronway7280]

@@mygaffer and the point you took was what?

[@maxwellmorgan8014]

Dr. Seuss before the beginning .

[@dirkbruere]

What question should I ask that will result in maximum benefit to me, in my own terms?

[@GWaleedKavalec]

This!

[@richmcgee434]

"Your conceptualization of your own identity and what is beneficial in your terms are variable and subjective to such a degree that your question is not a valid one. In the act of asking it you have already altered what the answer would have been prior to asking, and hearing this response has resulted in further changes. This pattern will continue ad infinitum."

[@dirkbruere]

@@richmcgee434 There is enough stability of identity to make it a worthwhile question.

[@richmcgee434]

@@dirkbruere Don't tell me, convince the Answerer of that. Good luck. I think I'd open with "What is the next question you would like me to ask you?" myself. Always good to know if your magical space oracle has preferences about what it wants to talk about before you start digging into the logic puzzles.

[@vargr]

The Answerer is as useless as Windows 10.

[@user-jl8mp6lg4i]

A lie ?