The specific answer referred to has been deleted, but to address the general question:
By analogy, if you were dealing with an advanced AI of some sort and it got locked up due to unclarity of factors involved in a calculation/decision, you might resolve the lockup with a new piece of input that was only indirectly related to the exact question.
So if, for instance, the AI were locked up on an equation (decision) concerning trees, and could not determine whether they should require active watering or should be left grow on their own (or whatever), it might be able to supply an educated guess or at least "make up its mind" and proceed merrily on its way if fed the datum that an idea, when planted in a society in the form of a book, can grow and transform quite without guidance.
Or it might find the analogy somewhat irrelevant and mind-bendingly unclear, and stay stuck in its dilemma. That could depend on the analogy used.
Now read this answer again. ;)