On the Answer

I asked Joel to name the subject of today’s contemplation.  He gave this a moment’s reflection and responded, “The answer.”   After a pause—he has been reading Douglas Adams’ work lately—he then added, “to life, the universe, and everything.”  However, since I am non-omniscient, I decided to stick with the first part of his suggestion. 

Even “the answer” remains a challenging topic, though, with many possible angles of contemplation.  I considered discussing “the answer” by exploring epistemology (the study of how we metaphysically know the answer), cognitive theory (the science of how we biologically remember or generate the answer), objective vs. subjective questions or absolute vs. relative truths (which each affect one’s answer and perceptions of the answer), and 42 (which The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy claims is The Answer).  I decided right away to ignore most of these “high-falutin’”  topics lest readers fall asleep; I don’t want to be responsible for any head injuries incurred from readers face-planting their keyboards or desk edges.  (Though, reportedly, faces have already been at risk after certain of my previous posts.  I do apologize, and I know a good nurse if you need one.)  

I then considered proposing questions and discussing the answer or possible answers, such as personal questions posed by over-inquisitive children or mathematics questions.  As an example of the former option, I’ve thrice heard the question, “Why does your face have spots?”  The unvocalized answer (as anime veins pop out on the adult’s forehead despite her smile) may be, “They’re called zits, dear.  The disease is quite catching, but you needn’t worry right away —they will show up on your face (Lord willing) when you’re in your teens.”  Yet, that’s merely a possible answer—not necessarily the answer.  As for the latter idea, I’d rather not discuss answers to math questions, nor deal with the tricky joke answers such as “one plus one equals eleven.”

Following these thoughts, I considered discussing the names we answer to or the people we answer to.  Alas, those topics fit the word “answer,” but not the phrase “the answer,” as the determiner implies one, specific answer and indicates that answer is a noun rather than a verb.   Very well.  If I insist on being technical, I suppose I could just discuss the answer for Joel’s suggestion, which I now have.  It may not be the answer, either, but it’s my answer, and I’ve already written the length of a decent blog entry, so I’ll just dam up this stream of consciousness here and let it puddle out for you to wade in however long you’d like.