Ghost of the dead horse
filling some space
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2007
- Messages
- 3,553
- MBTI Type
- ENTJ
One of my favorite paradoxes could be told as a story like this:
Teacher: You're going to take a surprise test some day next week. I won't tell you which day it's gonna be!
Student 1 to student 2: Ha! I know how it's going to be.
Student 2: How?
Student 1: well, there's only five days the test could be taken in. It can't be on Friday, as it's the last opportunity, and it wouldn't be a surprise then. It can't be on Thursday, as continuing the reasoning, it couldn't be a surprise then.
Student 2: So it couldn't be Wednesday, Thursday..
Student 1: Right on! It couldn't be on Monday! So, It can't be on any day of the week.
Student 2: In other words, there can be no surprise test!
Student 1: That's right.
(next Tuesday)
Teacher: You're taking the surprise test today.
Student 1: Hey! That's wrong! We've found out there can't be a surprise test on any day of week.
Teacher: was this a surprise to you?
Student 1,2:
Teacher: You're going to take a surprise test some day next week. I won't tell you which day it's gonna be!
Student 1 to student 2: Ha! I know how it's going to be.
Student 2: How?
Student 1: well, there's only five days the test could be taken in. It can't be on Friday, as it's the last opportunity, and it wouldn't be a surprise then. It can't be on Thursday, as continuing the reasoning, it couldn't be a surprise then.
Student 2: So it couldn't be Wednesday, Thursday..
Student 1: Right on! It couldn't be on Monday! So, It can't be on any day of the week.
Student 2: In other words, there can be no surprise test!
Student 1: That's right.
(next Tuesday)
Teacher: You're taking the surprise test today.
Student 1: Hey! That's wrong! We've found out there can't be a surprise test on any day of week.
Teacher: was this a surprise to you?
Student 1,2:
