Star Trek - Liar Paradox

Mudd and Kirk pose the Liar paradox to the Android leader, causing him to short circuit at the contradiction (I, Mudd)

• Category

  • Classic TV
  • Science Fiction

[drixg555]

Warning: That trick may not work on Data.

[reyjed619]

CBS stop spamming youtube

[Scupple]

I love the idea that the Enterprise crew had to plan out and rehearse this whole act. "And then Harry will pretend to play golf with the imaginary explosive."

[nameguy101]

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[Dan Christensen]

The two paradoxes are not logically equivalent. "I am lying" or the more common variant, "This statement is false," are simple self contradictions. These statements are true if and only if they are false. It is a simple matter to prove, by contradiction, that there can exist no well-defined statement that is true if and only if it is false.

In the case of the original paradox here, there is a logical solution. (See my other comment above.)

[Dan Christensen]

To summarize:

Kirk: Everything Harry says is a lie.

Harry: Everything I say is a lie.

If the narrative is to be consistent -- all bets are off otherwise! -- then both Kirk and Harry must be lying, and Harry must have told the truth on at least one other occasion. It's all so... logical!

[Tim Smith]

The QUICK summary of the Romney 2012 campaign..

Lies, Truth and reinterpretation depending upon the audience: donors, the media, campaign stump!

[d1g1man]

Agreed. 

[VinnyMonster1]

That's why he has an off button. Wonder if it works by remote too?

[Hank Hutchenson]

Star Trek, I, Mudd. The second encounter with Harry Mudd who appears to be the archetype space trader and adventurer. The fifth encounter with an advance space civilization dominated by a dysfunctional computer system, this time the entire native population are androids. The Enterprise must solve the logical androids or be dominated. FYI, The Liar's Paradox is truth built upon lying.

[Bloodyidit]

Mudd wasn't really known for his programming skizzills.

[Bloodyidit]

"This Statement Is False" whether or not the computer decides on it being true or false will set a loop either way, because if the statement is false then it is true then it is false then it is true then it is false then it is true then it is false then it is true then it is false then it is true then it is false then it is true then it is false then it is true then it is false then it is true then it is false then it is true then it is false then it is true then it is false then it it it it it