A loose Series on Paradoxes: Map of Content
Stimulating critical thinking
Gödel's is a newsletter about interweaving ideas and making decisions under uncertain conditions. I discuss knowledge management, mental models, and supporting Tools for Thought.
This list will be updated whenever a paradox is added
The Barber Paradox
Imagine a small town with a single barber. This barber has set a rule for whom he shaves: He shaves all and only those men in town who do not shave themselves. At first glance, this seems like a reasonable policy, but it leads to a paradox upon closer inspection.
The Unexpected Hanging Paradox
Imagine a prisoner is sentenced to death. The judge, known for his eccentric ways, tells the prisoner, "You will be hanged next week, but the exact day of your hanging will be a surprise." The prisoner, taken back to his cell, starts pondering the judge's words.
Hilbert's Paradox of the Grand Hotel
Imagine a hotel with a peculiar twist: it has infinite rooms. Now, imagine that every single one of these rooms is occupied. At first thought, you might assume that there's no way the hotel could accommodate any new guests.
The Motivation Crowding Theory
Motivation is critical in driving human behavior, dictating the energy and effort we allocate to various activities. The motivation crowding theory highlights a paradoxical phenomenon where introducing external incentives or rewards can undermine intrinsic motivation, leaving individuals dissatisfied when the reward fails to align with their perceived value of the activity.
The Ship of Theseus
The Ship of Theseus paradox is a thought experiment that raises fundamental questions about identity and change, the concept of self, and the line we draw between what something is and what it becomes.
The Paradox of the Court
This paradox arises from a lawsuit between the ancient Greek philosopher Protagoras and his student Euathlus. Protagoras, known for his contributions to sophistry and rhetoric, agreed to teach Euathlus the art of rhetoric on the condition that Euathlus would pay him after winning his first court case. Euathlus, eager to learn but cautious about the commitment, accepted the terms.
The Sorites Paradox
The Sorites Paradox, a fundamental challenge in the philosophy of language and logic, confronts the dilemma of vague predicates and the indeterminacy they bring to logical reasoning. It is most famously applied to the concept of a heap of sand.
The paradox of non-existence
Consider a unicorn. We know unicorns don't exist, yet we can describe them, draw them, and even write stories about them. So, what does it mean to discuss something that doesn't exist? Are we talking about nothing or just something that doesn't exist?
The Tachyonic Antitelephone
What would happen if you could use tachyons (faster-than-light particles) for signal transmission? Can we answer a message before it is sent?
The Double Bind Theory
Gödel's is a newsletter about interweaving ideas and making decisions under uncertain conditions. I discuss knowledge management, mental models, and supporting Tools for Thought.
Darwin's Paradox
Gödel's is a newsletter about interweaving ideas and making decisions under uncertain conditions. I discuss knowledge management, mental models, and supporting Tools for Thought.
