Which came first; the Question or the Answer?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the philosophical debate regarding whether questions or answers precede one another in the pursuit of knowledge. Participants argue that answers exist independently of questions, suggesting that all potential questions are inherently linked to pre-existing answers. The consensus leans towards the notion that both questions and answers emerge simultaneously, as the quest for knowledge drives the formulation of inquiries based on available answers. This perspective emphasizes the interconnectedness of questions and answers in human understanding.

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timejim
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I say the answer came first. All things out there that are to be known (and discovered) by man have always been there. The questions came about after mankind first discovered that there are answers out there!
 
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I'd say they came at the exactly same time. Theoretically, the answer is already there and every question already exists waiting to be asked - in my opinion.
 
In so much thus far, the answer has been raised before the question, while the question has been raised before the answer. Has the answer which has existed before the question valid if there was no question?

.... sorry I am on a chomsky caffeeine rush :biggrin:
 

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