On Thu, 4 Dec 2003, David Silberstein wrote: > On Thu, 4 Dec 2003, Philip Hart wrote: > > >Is anyone familiar with this book: > >http://www.crookedtimber.org/archives/000932.html > > > >And should someone send SKZB a copy? > > > > I am not sure that it is apropos to /Tiassa/, although perhaps you are > thinking of the oracle in /Teckla/, who was indeed a Tiassa. I believe oracularity is an official trait of Tiassas - see Mark Mandel's page. > You will of course have noted that the oracle was quite correct in his > response to Vlad. The problem, of course, was that Vlad failed to ask > the correct question, but then, I am not sure Vlad could be expected > to know the correct question. For once I wish an oracular pronouncement would be just wrong, but it's too much fun for authors to avoid. > I have sometimes toyed with the notion that, if one were to be granted > 3 wishes, that the first wish would be to instantly know the > consequences of all of ones actions (and as long as we're wishing, > ones inactions). I believe this runs into paradox - see philosphers on the concept of a Book of Knowledge. > No doubt such an ability would have its own pitfalls. Destroying the universe might be considered a pitfall.