140 replies to this topic

[thermalguru65]

absolutely, the paradox does not leave out the people who have shaved themselves. It merely states that he would shave any one who hadn't already.

[peanut]

The paradox is not eternal......so if the barber went one day without shaving, then he could shave himself and be shaving someone who did not shave himself.....even if it was for only a day

[itachi-san]

The paradox is not eternal......so if the barber went one day without shaving, then he could shave himself and be shaving someone who did not shave himself.....even if it was for only a day

But then at the time he shaves himself, he'd be shaving himself...

[silverag47]

I'll make this short and sweet... himself is in second person there for he can say, I shaved "MYSELF" and not lie

[silverag47]

...by the way the paradox gets you going by only thinking in a third person view, you just got to think as the barber


took me 2 mins

[EGG HEAD]

Okay. IMHO :
the barber promise to shave anyone who does not shave himself.
and the question is "Can the barber shave himself and keep the mentioned promise?"
right?

so. I think the barber not promise to " NOT SHAVE anyone who sahve himself" right?
so, why the barber would break the rule if he shave himself?

the promise only said that he (the barber) will shave anyone who does not shave himself. so, the other who shave himself still can be shaved by the barber right? include the barber.

Edited by EGG HEAD, 29 April 2008 - 06:33 PM.

[Lost in space]

Barber Paradox (Russell's Paradox) - Back to the Paradoxes

Analogue paradox to the paradox of liar formulated English logician, philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell.
There was a barber in a village, who promised to shave everybody, who does not shave himself (or herself).
Can the barber shave himself and keep the mentioned promise?

Edited (better wording?):
In a village, the barber shaves everyone who does not shave himself/herself, but no one else.
Who shaves the barber?

Not reading all the other posts, and dare I ask if the lady shaves herself - I have two pictures in my mind. one is similar to my old aunt who had almost a moustache when she was in her eighties, and the other is not for this forum!

Possibly a non shaving lady barber

[silverag47]

he,she,himself,herself,they,them, themself... etc. (SECOND PERSON)

[Steve Luke]

Thus, the barber is female and has no facial hair. She does not shave herself, but shaves everyone else.

The barber promises to shave everyone who doesn't shave themselves:
"In a village, the barber shaves everyone who does not shave himself/herself, but no one else."

If the barber (or anyone else in the village) is a woman (or child) who does not NEED to shave, then they don't shave themselves, which means the barber (man, woman, or child) must therefore shave them - if they need it or not. So the 'barber is a woman/child' exit does not work.

Edited by Steve Luke, 05 May 2008 - 04:52 PM.

[Lost in space]

Spoiler for Sticking with

Lady barber who gives herself under arm, leg and bikini wax!

that works