If you ask a toddler, "How much is 19+45?" They could find it slightly harder to respond to the question promptly. Difficulty is subjective, which means what may be challenging for one person may not be for another.
But what if there are questions which are harder for a wider range of individuals to answer? There are several questions which many people find difficult to answer since they may require a higher level of cognitive ability or knowledge.
In this article, we've compiled a list of some of the most challenging questions in the world that people commonly struggle with, along with explanations for why they are so difficult.
List of the 7 Most Difficult Questions in the World
It's fascinating to think about the "most difficult questions in the world", but it's important to remember that what one person finds difficult, another might not. After researching for a few days, we’ve come up with the most difficult questions in the world where people might fumble while answering these questions.
Q1. What is the Meaning Or Purpose Of Life?
While sitting among your friends, suddenly this question is tossed at you: “What is the meaning of life?”
It can be harder for people to answer it most simply and clearly. Since everyone has different notions about the purpose of life. So, how would you answer it? Meaning for life varies for everyone. The meaning or purpose of life is a subjective and philosophical question that has puzzled humans for centuries.
But you can answer it like that – do what makes you happy and at ease. For example, a person might find meaning in nurturing their family, while another might find it in pursuing scientific discoveries.
One example is Epicurus' notion of hedonism, which emphasises the pursuit of happiness and personal fulfilment. In contrast, Aristotle presents the concept of eudaimonia, advocating for a life rooted in virtue and moral excellence.
Q2. What is Consciousness?
Before answering this question, do you know what consciousness is? It refers to our subjective experience of being aware of our surroundings, thoughts, and emotions.
It's the quality or state of being aware of something within oneself or in the external environment. Philosophers, neuroscientists, and psychologists continue to debate the concept of consciousness, which has not yet been fully understood.
For example, when you're aware of the sensation of your feet touching the ground, that's consciousness in action. Another example is the experience of tasting your favourite food, which involves sensory consciousness.
Q3. What is the Universe Made Of?
From our school time, we’ve been taught that the universe is made up of matter, which is made of atoms. But there is another new term which you may not have heard of: Dark matter/dark energy. The universe is composed of approximately 5% ordinary matter, 27% dark matter, and 68% dark energy.
Dark matter is an invisible form of matter that doesn't emit or reflect light, while dark energy is a mysterious energy driving the universe's accelerating expansion. These components play a crucial role in shaping the universe's structure and evolution.
For instance, dark matter's gravitational influence helps hold galaxies together, while dark energy pushes them apart. An example is the observation of galaxy rotation curves, which indicate the presence of dark matter.
Q4. What Are Your Weaknesses?
This question is mostly asked during job interviews: What’s your strength and weakness? Most people fumble while answering this question, which makes it the hardest question to answer. We tend to ignore our weaknesses by only giving more stress to our strengths.
But imagine if we were not aware of our weakness; then we might be overlooking areas where we need improvement, potentially hindering our personal and professional growth.
Being unaware of our weaknesses can lead to missed opportunities for self-improvement, Poor decision-making, Inefficient use of time and resources, and Strained relationships due to unaddressed flaws.
Additionally, acknowledging our weaknesses allows us to work on self-improvement, develop strategies to overcome challenges, leverage strengths to compensate for weaknesses, and make informed decisions.
When answering "What's your strength and weakness?" in an interview, it's essential to be honest about weaknesses, show self-awareness, highlight efforts to improve, and emphasise strengths relevant to the role.
Example: "My strength is attention to detail, which helps me deliver high-quality work. A weakness I'm working on is public speaking; I'm taking courses to improve my presentation skills."
Q5. Can a Statement Be True and False at the Same Time?
In classical logic, we follow the law of non-contradiction, which states that something can't both be and not be at the same time. This means a statement is either true or false, but not both.
However, some philosophical frameworks challenge this idea, such as Fuzzy Logic allows for degrees of truth rather than binary true/false values. Think of it like a scale from 0 to 1, where 0 is completely false and 1 is completely true.
Example: "He is tall." If someone is 5'9" and the average height is 5'8", we might say this statement is 0.8 true (mostly true but not entirely).
Other examples of ambiguous truth values include:
- Borderline cases: "Is a person with a PhD a student?" Depending on context, this might be both true (they're still learning) and false (they've completed their degree).
- Vague terms: "He is rich." What's the exact cutoff for being rich? This statement's truth value can be ambiguous.
- More examples include: "I am both hungry and not hungry." (Maybe you've eaten a snack, but you're still a bit peckish.) "This painting is both beautiful and not beautiful." (Art is subjective, and opinions may vary.)
Q6. Where Do You Want to Be in Five Years?
Another interview question: “Where do you want to see yourself in the next 5 years?” Have you ever thought about why all the interviewers ask this question during an interview?
By asking where you see yourself in the next 5 years, they're trying to understand your career goals, like are you looking for a long-term fit with the company or just a stepping stone? They also want to know, are you driven to grow and take on new challenges, or are you content with the status quo?
Additionally, it makes it clear to them whether your vision aligns with the company's goals and growth trajectory. This question helps interviewers assess whether you're likely to stay with the company long-term, grow into more responsibilities, and contribute to the company's success.
So, always keep in mind when answering this question, consider highlighting your career aspirations, how the role fits into your long-term goals, and your willingness to learn and grow with the company.
Example: "In the next 5 years, I see myself taking on more leadership responsibilities, contributing to innovative projects, and growing with the company. I'm excited about the opportunity to develop my skills and expertise in this role."
Q7. Is Mathematics Invented or Discovered?
What do you think about whether maths was invented or discovered? At first, let’s understand the meaning of both words. Invention involves creating something entirely new, whereas discovery means finding out what one did not previously know.
So, was it invented or discovered? The debate surrounding whether mathematics is invented or discovered is ongoing among philosophers and mathematicians. Some people believe math is discovered because it describes the world around us, like patterns in nature.
Mathematical truths seem universal, such as 2 + 2 = 4. For instance, pi (π) is a mathematical constant that describes circles, and the Fibonacci sequence appears in nature, like in flower petals and branching trees.
On the other hand, others argue that math is invented because humans created mathematical symbols, rules, and notation systems. Algebra and calculus, for example, were developed by mathematicians to solve specific problems. Ultimately, it's likely a combination of both – math describes the world, but humans shape how we understand and express it.
Disclaimer: These questions are subjective, and the answers provided represent simplified explanations of complex topics. The answers can vary according to the individual's perspective, understanding, and expertise. They are intended to provide a general insight into the topic and may not encompass all possible viewpoints or nuances.
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