Maybe it was a translational error via a computer, and it thought the answer was a number, when it was really "For Two" something a computer wouldn't understand (yes even the brilliant ones like Marvin the Paranoid Android :)
2007-09-24 12:18:18 · 7 answers · asked by cowboydanimal 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
You idiot, seven times eight is 56
2007-09-24 12:23:27 · update #1
I think the computer must have been actually programmed by humans, not mice. In the computer character protocol known as ASCII (which is used by nearly every English-language computer), 42 is the ASCII code for the asterisk, *. The asterisk is also known as the wildcard character, meaning it can stand for anything and everything. (For example if you're searching your computer for all documents, your search term would be "*.doc", meaning all .doc files.) So 42 is the asterisk, which covers, well, everything!
2007-09-24 12:29:28 · answer #1 · answered by R[̲̅ə̲̅٨̲̅٥̲̅٦̲̅]ution 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's forty-two. Recall the scene in the last chapter of "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe" where Ford and Arthur realize they have crash-landed on prehistoric earth, and that the Question must be locked in the brains of the cavemen. They manage to work out the Question: "What do you get when you multiply six by nine?" And at that point they realize that the whole program is flawed.
Also, if you listen to the radio shows (which preceded the books), the characters say "forty-two," not "for two."
2007-09-24 13:39:51 · answer #2 · answered by flexiblewill 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, i was curious why some would answer simply as 42. When i read the reasons behind 42, i found it that there is sense to it. The author has developed concepts based on his intuition for arrriving to such an answer. Now, it will really depend if it make sense to you. The meaning of life is subjective to everyone and everyone is entitled to their opinion as to see how they look on life. However, the best life for me is the considered life. I would categorically state that an unprincipled and feckless life is so much at the mercy of chance and dependent on the choices made by others. This for me, is of litlle real value to the person living it. A thoughtful life is shaped by aims and strengthened by integrity. A life must be lived with purpose. Thanks for asking. Have a great day!
2016-03-18 23:33:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nah, it's got to be 42...
Something nice and simple.
After all, life isn't that complicated [to a computer]...
Haha
2007-09-24 12:21:42 · answer #4 · answered by Christy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, it was 42. Computers don't make mistakes, humans do. :))).
2007-09-24 12:24:48 · answer #5 · answered by laura seeks the Kwisatz Haderach 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Forty-two. But, no one remembers the question.
2007-09-24 12:22:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask the dolphins, they know.
We apologize for the inconvenience
2007-09-24 13:04:29 · answer #7 · answered by sirwasik 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's '42'.
The QUESTION is what is seven times eight.
2007-09-24 12:22:13 · answer #8 · answered by Galen W 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋