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Traditional Paradoxes Trivia Quiz

A paradox is an assertion that: 1) seems false but is actually true; 2) an assertion that seems true but is actually false; 3) faulty reasoning; or 4) the truth or falsity is indeterminable. See if you can reason through the following paradoxes!

A multiple-choice quiz by padfoot1979. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
padfoot1979

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
85,348

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
5

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
3 / 5

Plays
17029

Awards
Editor's Choice

Last 3 plays: Guest 81 (4/5), Guest 66 (2/5), Guest 70 (3/5).

Question 1 of 5

1. There is a barber in a small town in Italy. He shaves all and only those persons who do not shave themselves. Who shaves the barber? Hint

The barber's wife shaves him

The barber shaves himself

He does not exist

The barber does not shave

NEXT>

Question 2 of 5

2. Melissa's baby goes missing. Melissa finds that an alligator has taken the child. Melissa asks the alligator to give the child back. The alligator tells her that he will return the child if she answers a question correctly, but he will eat the child if she answers incorrectly. His question is thus: Will I eat your baby? Melissa replies, "Yes." What will the alligator do? Hint

The alligator will tickle the baby's toes.

The alligator will not eat the baby.

The alligator cannot truthfully do either.

The alligator will eat the baby.

NEXT>

Question 3 of 5

3. A teacher tells his students that there will be an exam sometime the following week, but the day on which it occurs will be a surprise. A student reasons that the exam cannot be Friday and be considered a surprise because the class will know that if it had not happened Monday-Thursday that it would indeed occur on Friday. He then rationalizes that it cannot be held on Thursday because he already reasoned it cannot be on Friday, and likewise if it had not occurred Monday-Wednesday, it would have to have been on Thursday. Consequently, he reasons the same for Wednesday, Tuesday, and Monday, thus coming to the conclusions that the exam will not occur because it cannot be a surprise. Can a surprise exam occur the following week?

Yes

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Question 4 of 5

4. This statement is false. Is this statement true? Hint

It is not possible to tell.

yes

Jennie King Mellon Library

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Question 5 of 5

5. I have in my hand a white handkerchief. I have in my other hand a black raven. I propose that I can prove that all ravens are black using my white handkerchief. Ravens are part of the category "Black items" Therefore all non-ravens are in a category "Non-black." My white handkerchief is a non-black item. Therefore this supports that all ravens are black. Does this logic support the idea that all ravens are black? Hint

Chatham Cougars

Yes

Impossible to tell

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 19 2024 : Guest 81: 4/5
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Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. There is a barber in a small town in Italy. He shaves all and only those persons who do not shave themselves. Who shaves the barber?

Answer: He does not exist

This is the most common paradox. Since the barber only shaves those individuals who do not shave themselves, he cannot shave himself. However, if he does not shave, then technically he should shave himself. Sound confusing? It is because it is not viably possible. The barber does not exist!

Answer: The alligator cannot truthfully do either.

If the alligator eats the baby then the mother is correct, but he will not be able to return the baby. Therefore that is not an option. If he gives the baby back, then the mother is wrong, so therefore that is not an option either. So, the alligator cannot truthfully make a choice.

Answer: Yes

The student has used faulty logic to determine the impossibility of a surprise exam. When the exam does indeed occur the student will thus be surprised. Therefore, it can occur. And before any of you disagree and say it cannot be held on Friday, if you reason a test cannot be held on Friday because it will not be a surprise, when it does occur you will be shocked. I know from first-hand experience. Never mess with a Paradox professor!

4. This statement is false. Is this statement true?

Answer: It is not possible to tell.

If this statement is false, then the statement becomes "This statement is not, not false." A double negative causes the statement to become true. However, if you believe the statement to be true, then the statement remains, "This statement is false." Oh the dilemma, also known as, A PARADOX!

Answer: No

Faulty logic fails again simply because an item in the black category does not automatically make it a raven, nor does being in the non-black category make something not a raven. What do you say birdwatchers?

Source: Author padfoot1979

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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