Ask a Foolish Question

"Ask a Foolish Question" by Robert Sheckley is a science fiction tale from the 1950s that examines what it means to truly know something through the story of the Answerer, a being that can supposedly answer any question. The plot follows Morran and Lingman, who, like many others, are on a mission to locate this entity, hoping for answers to life's biggest mysteries, like life and death. But when they meet the Answerer, they learn that getting good answers isn't just about asking questions; it's about understanding the question itself. The story shows that even with all the information in the universe available, people still need to understand the basics to ask questions that actually lead to real understanding and that shallow questions only lead to shallow answers.