[Guest]

A man who walk's aimlessly around town always says "I don't know". He doesn't know anything.

When confronted a person asks him "Why do you say I don't know ? "

The man replies, "I don't know"

Is he telling the truth or is he lying ? ( He doesn't know truth or lies)

So imagine your a psychologist trying to interpret his answer for him

If he is telling the truth, then how could he know the truth is he doesn't know anything ?

If he is telling a lie, then he knows why he is saying I don't know but if that were the case, how could someone who doesn't know anything , know the truth ?[

Ultimately there is no answer. Unless I missed something.

Edited December 17, 2008 by Ionno

[Guest]

He's lying.

He says "I don't know" because he doesn't know "anything". So he must be aware that he doesn't know anything or he would say nothing, therefore he knows why he says "I don't know" so it's a lie

[Guest]

He's lying.

He says "I don't know" because he doesn't know "anything". So he must be aware that he doesn't know anything or he would say nothing, therefore he knows why he says "I don't know" so it's a lie

Read the OP's solution after my post

I agree there is no definitive right answer for something like this but the above is how I chose to look at it

[Guest]

A man who walk's aimlessly around town always says "I don't know". He doesn't know anything.

When confronted a person asks him "Why do you say I don't know ? "

The man replies, "I don't know"

Is he telling the truth or is he lying ? ( He doesn't know truth or lies)

So imagine your a psychologist trying to interpret his answer for him

If he is telling the truth, then how could he know the truth is he doesn't know anything ?

If he is telling a lie, then he knows why he is saying I don't know but if that were the case, how could someone who doesn't know anything , know the truth ?[

Ultimately there is no answer. Unless I missed something.

His lying because he does no why he is not answering because he does not know..that was toooo easy..

[bonanova]

He doesn't know whether he's certain about telling the truth, but he says so anyway.

His words could then be paraphrased:

I don't know enough about myself to be certain about being not certain.

Perhaps if I knew more, I could be certain about it.

Someone told me that the more he knew the more he knew that he didn't know.

I'm kind of like him.

[Guest]

He doesn't know whether he's certain about telling the truth, but he says so anyway.

His words could then be paraphrased:

I don't know enough about myself to be certain about being not certain.

Perhaps if I knew more, I could be certain about it.

Someone told me that the more he knew the more he knew that he didn't know.

I'm kind of like him.

actually I think thats me after I've read one of your puzzles Bona

[Guest]

His lying because he does no why he is not answering because he does not know..that was toooo easy..

How can you be so certain he is answering the question ?

What if he says I don't know, but the only thing HE DOES KNOW is that he doesnt know anything - That right there is a paradox

How can a man who doesn't know anything, know that he doesnt know anything ?

Again it's impossible to tell however assumption answers can hold heavy weight.

[Guest]

Since this man doesn't know anything, I'm guessing that he is telling the truth because he doesn't know anything at all, so he replies "I don't know."

[Guest]

Good paradox, it made my head go crazy.

[Guest]

He doesn't know whether he's certain about telling the truth, but he says so anyway.

His words could then be paraphrased:

I don't know enough about myself to be certain about being not certain.

Perhaps if I knew more, I could be certain about it.

Someone told me that the more he knew the more he knew that he didn't know.

I'm kind of like him.

Reminds me of Phil O'Sophy ... twas in others by mistake

[Guest]

Could it be both the truth and a lie?

[Guest]

Does he have to be telling the truth or lying, he could just be saying it completely randomly. This just makes it part truth and part of a lie.

Edited January 1, 2009 by Mystery