The Last Answer, by Isaac Asimov

People might want to read the comments from two of the previous submissions of this:<p><a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1287594" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=1287594</a><p><a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5585646" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=5585646</a><p>In particular, there&#x27;s a link to &quot;The Last Question&quot;<p><a href="http://www.multivax.com/last_question.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.multivax.com&#x2F;last_question.html</a><p>That&#x27;s been submitted before too:<p><a href="https://hn.algolia.com/?q=the+last+question#!/story/sort_by_date/0/the%20last%20question" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;hn.algolia.com&#x2F;?q=the+last+question#!&#x2F;story&#x2F;sort_by_...</a>

<i>Murray said, “But the odd integers can be derived. If you divide every even integer in the entire infinite series by two, you will get another infinite series which will contain within it the infinite series of odd integers.”</i><p>For S={2,4,6,8...}<p>S&#x2F;2={1,2,3,4,..}<p>I used to think the set of even integers is a subset of the natural numbers.Doesnt this suggest that the reverse (the set of natural numbers being a subset of even integers) is actually true?

It is the awareness that you are immortal that would lead to the desire to end things (assuming the concept actually exists). Logically, the voice is simply a conduit to the interconnection (nexus) of all entities. Being singley aware my own consciousness is immortal and that consciousness is also part of a greater whole are equally appealing and frightening to me. That duality is slightly puzzling and interesting.

I read this every time it appears on the front page, and I enjoy it every time. Asimov remains an inspiration.