Talk:Barber paradox
The Barber paradox considers a town with a barber who shaves everyone who does not shave himself, and no one else. When you start to think about whether he should shave himself or not you will get puzzled...
- I'm also rather curious to know how this affects the bearded men in the town. Or is this like those physics problems? "Assuming a frictionless, spherical cow..."
There can't be any bearded men in town. As stated, the barber shaves everyone who does not shave himself.
- Sure, but with what frequency? Who says they don't sport a beard for a while and then go back to the smooth look after a month or two? Which, I suppose, answers my question. Brion VIBBER
- However the most likely solution to this problem is that the barber, despite being male, doesn't shave.
Nope. Then he doesn't shave himself and so he has to.... see above. THe possible solution is that the barber is a woman ;-) -- Tarquin 12:51 Apr 9, 2003 (UTC)
- Other possible solutions:
- A woman shaves the barber.
- The barber leaves town to shave himself or to be shaved.
- DesertSteve 04:02 11 Jun 2003 (UTC)
No, because if a woman shaves the barber then he doesn't shave himself and therefore must shave himself. (The barber is said to be male, so my suggestion won't work either, BTW) -- Tarquin
- The barber shaves every man who doesn't shave himself.
- A = the set of men who shave themselves
- B = the set of men who don't shave themselves
- C = the barber
- A = M ^ S
- B = M ^ ~ S
- Assuming the barber is a man,
- C = (M ^ S) v (M ^ ~ S)
- Tis a puzzlement. DesertSteve 04:26 12 Jun 2003 (UTC)
What are M and S? -- Tarquin 08:13 12 Jun 2003 (UTC)
- M = Man
- S = Shaves himself
- (M ^ S) = man and shaves himself
- (M ^ ~S) = man and not shaves himself
- DesertSteve 04:18 13 Jun 2003 (UTC)
I don't understand what you're trying to say. Throwing M and S in doesn't really add anything new. Of course the barber must belong to set A or B. It is that which prevents him from existing, it's the question of whether he shaves himself or not -- Tarquin 09:03 13 Jun 2003 (UTC)