24 replies to this topic

[rookie1ja]

Honestants and Swindlecants II. - Back to the Logic Problems
Afterwards he meets another two aborigines. One says: "I am a Swindlecant or the other one is an Honestant." Who are they?

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Spoiler for Solution

Honestants and Swindlecants II. - solution
Logical disjunction is a statement "P or Q". Such a disjunction is false if both P and Q are false. In all other cases it is true. Note that in everyday language, use of the word "or" can sometimes mean "either, but not both" (e.g., "would you like tea or coffee?"). In logic, this is called an "exclusive disjunction" or "exclusive or" (xor).
So if A was a swindlecant, then his statement would be false (thus A would have to be an honestant and B would have to be a swindlecant). However, that would cause a conflict which implicates that A must be an honestant. In that case at least one part of his statement is true and as it can’t be the first one, B must be an honestant, too.

[earl11]

Both are Honestants.

Let the one who answered be A and the other one be B.

If A is a Swindlecant, then the statement must be false. Since 'or' is used, both of the clauses should be false.
But, the clause "I am a Swindlecant" would be true. Hence, A cannot be a Swindlecant.
Thus, A is a Honestant.

Now the statement must be true, i.e. either one or both of the clauses should be true.
Case 1. Both clauses are true - This is not possible as "I am a Swindlecant" is obviously false.
Case 2. First clause is true, second is false - Again, not possible, as "I am a Swindlecant" is false.
Case 3. First clause is false, second is true - This case satisfies the conditions as the first clause "I am a Swindlecant" is false. Also the second clause "The other one is a Honestant" could be true.

Hence, as Case 3 is the only one which satisfies the conditions, B is a Honestant too.

[friedpotatos]

Both are Honestants.

If A is a Swindlecant, then the statement must be false. Since 'or' is used, both of the clauses should be false.
But, the clause "I am a Swindlecant" would be true. Hence, A cannot be a Swindlecant.
Thus, A is a Honestant.

Then he would be lieing. thus hes not Honestant, flawed.

[collinbullard]

Sorry, check your logic. The Honestant has used an 'or' clause, therefore, even if clause 1 (I am a Swindlecant) is false, as long as clause 2 is true, then the entire statement is true. They are both Honestants.

[kabooms1fire]

or there both swindlecats, when you use or both statments become linked there for if eatherside of the statement is a lie then the statement itself is a lie.

[m00sej00se]

A cannot be a Swindlecant because both of his statements would have to be false to make him a liar. And a liar cannot call himself a liar because he would be telling the truth.

OR (+) truth table (0=false, 1=true)
0 + 0 = 0
0 + 1 = 1
1 + 0 = 1
1 + 1 = 1

[catfishrob]

In classical logic form:
A: Person 1 is swidlecat
B: Person 2 is honestant
X= "A xor B"
If A, not X
If not X, not (A + B.)
If A not A (reductio ad absurdum)
---------
Not A (Person 1 not swindlecat)
---------
B (Person 2 is honestant)

Both are honestants.

[aishi_khurana]

whaaaat?

[Derfius]

Alternate solution: Both are Swidlecats.

Nothing in the original issue stated that they were different...

Derf

[Jackie Chan]

Alternate solution: Both are Swidlecats.

Nothing in the original issue stated that they were different...

Derf

That wouldn't work.

In order for the person speaking in this riddle to be a Swindlecant, he would have to be lying. His OR statement, however, is not false and hence not a lie. His OR statement is true! (Why would a Swindlecant say he is a Swindlecant? He lies about everything!)