Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Best Question

  • Published:
Journal of Philosophical Logic Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Suppose we get a chance to ask an angel a question of our choice. What should we ask to make the most of our unique opportunity? Ned Markosian has shown that the task is trickier than it might seem. Ted Sider has suggested playing safe and asking: What is the true proposition (or one of the true propositions) that would be most beneficial for us to be told? Let's see whether we can do any better than that.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Belnap, B. D., Jr. and Steel, T. B., Jr., The Logic of Questions and Answers, Yale University Press, New Haven, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Grice, P. H., Logic and conversation, in P. Cole and J. L. Morgan (eds.), Syntax and Semantics, Vol. 3, Academic Press, New York, 1975, pp. 51–58.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Markosian, N., The paradox of the question, Analysis 57 (1997), 95–97.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Sider, T., On the paradox of the question, Analysis 57 (1997), 97–101.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, U.S.A

    Achille C. Varzi

Authors
  1. Achille C. Varzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Varzi, A.C. The Best Question. Journal of Philosophical Logic 30, 251–258 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017549407042

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017549407042

Search

Navigation