Paradoxes - Go!

[Full Tilt 10+ year member]

I'll start:

A judge tells a condemned prisoner that he will be hanged at noon on one weekday in the following week, but that the execution will be a surprise to the prisoner. He will not know the day of the hanging until the executioner knocks on his cell door at noon that day. Having reflected on his sentence, the prisoner draws the conclusion that he will escape from the hanging. His reasoning is in several parts. He begins by concluding that the “surprise hanging” can’t be on a Friday, as if he hasn’t been hanged by Thursday, there is only one day left – and so it won’t be a surprise if he’s hanged on a Friday. Since the judge’s sentence stipulated that the hanging would be a surprise to him, he concludes it cannot occur on Friday. He then reasons that the surprise hanging cannot be on Thursday either, because Friday has already been eliminated and if he hasn’t been hanged by Wednesday night, the hanging must occur on Thursday, making a Thursday hanging not a surprise either. By similar reasoning he concludes that the hanging can also not occur on Wednesday, Tuesday or Monday. Joyfully he retires to his cell confident that the hanging will not occur at all. The next week, the executioner knocks on the prisoner’s door at noon on Wednesday — which, despite all the above, will still be an utter surprise to him. Everything the judge said has come true.

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[brodeisel 10+ year member]

I'll start:
A judge tells a condemned prisoner that he will be hanged at noon on one weekday in the following week, but that the execution will be a surprise to the prisoner. He will not know the day of the hanging until the executioner knocks on his cell door at noon that day. Having reflected on his sentence, the prisoner draws the conclusion that he will escape from the hanging. His reasoning is in several parts. He begins by concluding that the “surprise hanging” can’t be on a Friday, as if he hasn’t been hanged by Thursday, there is only one day left – and so it won’t be a surprise if he’s hanged on a Friday. Since the judge’s sentence stipulated that the hanging would be a surprise to him, he concludes it cannot occur on Friday. He then reasons that the surprise hanging cannot be on Thursday either, because Friday has already been eliminated and if he hasn’t been hanged by Wednesday night, the hanging must occur on Thursday, making a Thursday hanging not a surprise either. By similar reasoning he concludes that the hanging can also not occur on Wednesday, Tuesday or Monday. Joyfully he retires to his cell confident that the hanging will not occur at all. The next week, the executioner knocks on the prisoner’s door at noon on Wednesday — which, despite all the above, will still be an utter surprise to him. Everything the judge said has come true.

waste of time

 

[MisterDeadeye 10+ year member]

List of paradoxes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

/thread

 

[IonRL205 10+ year member]

wall of text

didn't read

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

wall of text
didn't read

It was actually a pretty good one

 

[brodeisel 10+ year member]

It was actually a pretty good one

no it wasnt.

 

[Full Tilt 10+ year member]

no it wasnt.

/your opinion.

 

[NutHugger 10+ year member]

I'll start:
A judge tells a condemned prisoner that he will be hanged at noon on one weekday in the following week, but that the execution will be a surprise to the prisoner. He will not know the day of the hanging until the executioner knocks on his cell door at noon that day. Having reflected on his sentence, the prisoner draws the conclusion that he will escape from the hanging. His reasoning is in several parts. He begins by concluding that the “surprise hanging” can’t be on a Friday, as if he hasn’t been hanged by Thursday, there is only one day left – and so it won’t be a surprise if he’s hanged on a Friday. Since the judge’s sentence stipulated that the hanging would be a surprise to him, he concludes it cannot occur on Friday. He then reasons that the surprise hanging cannot be on Thursday either, because Friday has already been eliminated and if he hasn’t been hanged by Wednesday night, the hanging must occur on Thursday, making a Thursday hanging not a surprise either. By similar reasoning he concludes that the hanging can also not occur on Wednesday, Tuesday or Monday. Joyfully he retires to his cell confident that the hanging will not occur at all. The next week, the executioner knocks on the prisoner’s door at noon on Wednesday — which, despite all the above, will still be an utter surprise to him. Everything the judge said has come true.

That is not a paradox. That is failed logic. Assuming it wouldn't be on friday was the only logical thing he could assume. Any of the other 4 days were perfectly reasonable.

 

[Full Tilt 10+ year member]

That is not a paradox. That is failed logic. Assuming it wouldn't be on friday was the only logical thing he could assume. Any of the other 4 days were perfectly reasonable.

Well, if he knew it wasn't going to be on Friday, then it being on Thursday would also not be a surprise. If he's still there Wednesday night, and he knows it won't be Friday, then the Thursday execution wouldn't be a surprise.

So, if Thursday was ruled out, and he was still around Tuesday night, the Wednesday execution wouldn't be a surprise, either. See how it works?

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

That is not a paradox. That is failed logic. Assuming it wouldn't be on friday was the only logical thing he could assume. Any of the other 4 days were perfectly reasonable.

that.

 

[brodeisel 10+ year member]

that.

Well at least 2 people think like i do.

 

[MisterDeadeye 10+ year member]

no it wasnt.

This.

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

Meh. Some dude told me that at the gym....still don't get it....

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

This.

that.

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

Well at least 2 people think like i do.

3...

 

---------- Post added at 11:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:45 AM ----------

 

This.

that.

Those