Buridan's Paradox
Created | Updated Jun 21, 2013
You've got to get across a bridge (like the Bridge of Death in Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail) and the Bridgemaster informs you that he only allows the Truthful to pass unscathed, while liars get chucked onto the jaggy rocks.
"Speak your Truth," he intones.
So what d'ya do?
An interesting alternative to saying "1+1=2" is for you to proceed as follows:-
"You're definitely going to chuck me on the jaggy rocks!"
"Not necessarily, I could choose not to."
"Are you calling me a liar? If you are, you'd better chuck me on the jaggy rocks."
"Okay, then."
"Hang on, you're about to chuck me on the jaggy rocks like I said you would!"
"Yeah, you were telling the truth, then. Pass, friend!"
"Thanks. But since you haven't chucked me on the jaggy rocks it seems I was lying all along!" And then you run for it!
Buridan link: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/buridan/
Oh, by the way, this paradox illustrates that future conditionals have no truth value.
Another example of this can be found in A609572:
If God is omnipotent, he should be able to create a stone that he can't lift; but if he can't then lift it, how can he be omnipotent?
General Paradox link: A581096
"Speak your Truth," he intones.
So what d'ya do?
An interesting alternative to saying "1+1=2" is for you to proceed as follows:-
"You're definitely going to chuck me on the jaggy rocks!"
"Not necessarily, I could choose not to."
"Are you calling me a liar? If you are, you'd better chuck me on the jaggy rocks."
"Okay, then."
"Hang on, you're about to chuck me on the jaggy rocks like I said you would!"
"Yeah, you were telling the truth, then. Pass, friend!"
"Thanks. But since you haven't chucked me on the jaggy rocks it seems I was lying all along!" And then you run for it!
Buridan link: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/buridan/
Oh, by the way, this paradox illustrates that future conditionals have no truth value.
Another example of this can be found in A609572:
If God is omnipotent, he should be able to create a stone that he can't lift; but if he can't then lift it, how can he be omnipotent?
General Paradox link: A581096
