Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Philosophy test

 A single question test to determine whether someone has a philosophical mindset.

The question is: "Where would you like to go, if you could go anywhere?"

Failing answers include: Athens, Boston, Mars. Any specific location.

A person who likes thinking, and who plays around with ideas all the time, will recognise the question as being very underspecified. What is meant by "going"? Is it by conventional travel or through magic teleportation? Can any equipment be brought? Is the return trip included in the hypothetical offer? Can one stay for an unlimited time? 

Asking for clarification like this is necessary to make sure that the inquirer and respondent are both agreed on what is being asked. The asking of clarification questions is also an opportunity for the inquirer to be surprised: the respondent may have thought about something that the inquirer did not. A clarification process like this is such a valuable feature of dialogue, and it can be done in a few seconds.

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