Paradox #1

Swiss Miss · 08-09-2006, 11:07 PM

Well, let's see how this turns out...

For the many who may not know: I am a total logician-wannabe. I love philosophy (so much that it was one of my majors in undergraduate college) and I love logic. It's weird that I'm fascinated by it though because I can openly and happily admit that I hardly understand much of it. I mean, I took Logic I in college and that blew my mind with all the letters and symbols involved but nevertheless, I loved it. It's something that isn't for everyone and you usually know right off the bat if you will like it or hate it.

So anyway, most recently I've been delving into the related subject of paradoxes and find they are a fantastic point of discussion. They are related to LOGIC as some can be explained through the use of logical explanation but some are just fun to try to argue one way or the other.

So here goes the first one (it is one of the most popular ones):

The Liar
(Epimenides' Paradox)
If I say that I am lying, am I telling the truth?

Discuss...

RadioactiveMan · 08-10-2006, 04:51 AM

My personal favourite is "You're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't" because Bart Simpson said it. I much prefer the Simpsons to your silly unanswerable question, Swiss!

DeaTHaBiT · 08-17-2006, 09:58 AM

A bird in the hand is worth two in a bush.

Thats balogne, two birds is definetely worth more than one!

Unless you're too fat to catch the two birds in the bush.

Sypher · 08-23-2006, 12:23 PM

Epimenides' Paradox is based on the assumption that a liar is incapable of telling the truth. I believe that to be false. Even a compulsive liar is capable of telling the truth if they want to.

Now to answer your question.

Quote:

If I say that I am lying, am I telling the truth?

You are telling the truth if you're lying but if you're telling the truth then you're lying. :D

08-17-2006, 09:58 AM	#3
DeaTHaBiT Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Anywhere but Canada Age: 22 Posts: 4	A bird in the hand is worth two in a bush. Thats balogne, two birds is definetely worth more than one! Unless you're too fat to catch the two birds in the bush. __________________ Hooya!

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08-09-2006, 11:07 PM	#1
Swiss Miss Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 160	Paradox #1 Well, let's see how this turns out... For the many who may not know: I am a total logician-wannabe. I love philosophy (so much that it was one of my majors in undergraduate college) and I love logic. It's weird that I'm fascinated by it though because I can openly and happily admit that I hardly understand much of it. I mean, I took Logic I in college and that blew my mind with all the letters and symbols involved but nevertheless, I loved it. It's something that isn't for everyone and you usually know right off the bat if you will like it or hate it. So anyway, most recently I've been delving into the related subject of paradoxes and find they are a fantastic point of discussion. They are related to LOGIC as some can be explained through the use of logical explanation but some are just fun to try to argue one way or the other. So here goes the first one (it is one of the most popular ones): The Liar (Epimenides' Paradox) If I say that I am lying, am I telling the truth? Discuss...

08-10-2006, 04:51 AM	#2
RadioactiveMan Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: B.C. Age: 19 Posts: 113	My personal favourite is "You're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't" because Bart Simpson said it. I much prefer the Simpsons to your silly unanswerable question, Swiss!