Why 42 is the meaning of life?
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The number 42 being labeled as the "meaning of life" originated from Douglas Adams' science fiction series "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," in which a supercomputer named Deep Thought, after much deliberation, declares that the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything is simply the number 42. This was done in a humorous and satirical context, with Adams himself admitting that he chose the number arbitrarily and that it was meant to be funny because it was mundane and unremarkable.
On the , expanded on the significance of the number 42 in various contexts. For example, 42 is the angle at which light reflects off of water to create a rainbow, which is a symbol of hope. It is also the sum of rows and columns in a specific type of magic cube. In addition, Kellis explained that 42 has associations in various traditions and sciences, such as it being the number of chromosomes for a giant panda or the numerical representation of the star symbol in ASCII code. However, these are all examples of "backronyms"—ways people retrofit significance onto the number after the fact 1.
In essence, while there are many interesting and coincidental facts related to the number 42, its designation as the "meaning of life" is a random and humorous choice, rather than holding true philosophical or existential significance. The popularity of the number in culture is a testament to the lasting impact of Adams' wit rather than a reflection of any deeper truth about the nature of reality 2.
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