- Nov 12, 2004
- 1,665
- 0
- 0
Teacher - "Students, there will be a surprise quiz next week."
Erudite Student, thinking to him/herself - "'Surprise' dictates I will not know the day of the quiz. If by the end of Thursday we have not been quizzed, then I would know the quiz will be on Friday, thus it is not a surprise, so the quiz cannot be on Friday. Knowing it cannot be on Friday, then if by the end of Wednesday we have not been quizzed, the quiz would have to be on Thursday, but again I would know the day and therefore it is not a surprise, so the quiz can neither be on Friday nor Thursday. If I continue this logic, then it is impossible for the teacher to surprise us, so this means we are not having a quiz!"
I have a theory on this. It's not a solution, but I believe it solves one of the problems in the paradox.
Erudite Student, thinking to him/herself - "'Surprise' dictates I will not know the day of the quiz. If by the end of Thursday we have not been quizzed, then I would know the quiz will be on Friday, thus it is not a surprise, so the quiz cannot be on Friday. Knowing it cannot be on Friday, then if by the end of Wednesday we have not been quizzed, the quiz would have to be on Thursday, but again I would know the day and therefore it is not a surprise, so the quiz can neither be on Friday nor Thursday. If I continue this logic, then it is impossible for the teacher to surprise us, so this means we are not having a quiz!"
I have a theory on this. It's not a solution, but I believe it solves one of the problems in the paradox.