this post was submitted on 24 Dec 2023
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Just before death you are granted one truthful, understandable answer to one question. What would you want to know? (mander.xyz)
submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
326 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Obviously a hypothetical scenario. There is no way to pass on the knowledge to anyone else. Time freezes for you only, and once you have your answer you are out of this world.

The question can allow you to see into the past, present and future and gain comprehension of any topic/issue. But it's only one question.

Edit: the point isn't "how to cheat death". You can't. Your body is frozen and there is nothing you can do with this knowledge other than knowing it, and die. So if you would rather be frozen in a limbo just thinking of numbers for eternity, be my guest.

Such a variety of replies, it's been really interesting to read them!

What would you want to know? Personally I'd want to see a timelapse or milestone glimpses of humanity's future until the end of Earth's existence (if we survive that long)

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[โ€“] [email protected] 8 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

This kinda just feels like "what single question would you ask ChatGPT if it was omniscient" so my mind is just getting lost in the arcane and complex structuring and restructuring of the question to get the answer you want rather than one that literally answers the exact question you asked.

Assuming though that you actually do just get the answer to the intent and spirit of your question the only rational one I can think of would have to be some variation of:

"What answer could you give me that would offer me the most peace, contentment and sense of resolution to my life?"

Otherwise I'd spend an eternity (or however long I'd have to consider my question) pondering how to ask that question without getting an accurate and correct response like:

"A really good one."

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

"What answer could you give me that would offer me the most peace, contentment and sense of resolution to my life?"

Also the concept that this is like asking ChatGPT really shows that the techno-futurists are winning with their idea of building a their own god of wires and processors that they can use to give the world answers in the place of a god that only lives in the heads of its believers. That's a dark future where someone can program god to have specific answers to questions.

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Yes, the idea is that you get an answer "to the intent and spirit of your question". No Gotchas.