Friday 9 March 2012

A great paradox

A few centuries ago, a law teacher came across a student who was willing to learn but was unable to pay the fees. The student struck a deal saying, "I will pay your fee the day I win my first case in the court". The teacher agreed and proceeded with the law course.

When the course was finished and teacher started pestering the student to pay the fee, the student reminded him of the deal and pushed days. Fed up with this, the teacher decided to sue the student in the court of law and both of them decided to argue for themselves.

The teacher put forward his argument saying: "If I win this case, as per the court of law, the student has to pay me as the case is about his non-payment of dues. And if I lose the case, student will still pay me because he would have won his first case. So either way I will have to get the money". 

The equally brilliant student argued back saying: "If I win the case, as per the court of law, I don't have to pay anything to the teacher as the case is about my non-payment of dues. And, if I lose the case, I don't have to pay him because I haven't won my first case yet. So either way, I am not going to pay the teacher anything". 

It is said that this is one of the greatest paradoxes ever recorded in history.

3 comments:

  1. Interesting. It is difficult to understand strange predicaments that we are sometimes in.

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  2. Why do people make false commitment?

    This reminds me of another story.

    There was a saint who had a mettlesome horse.Everybody drooled at it including a notorious dacoit.The dacoit made efforts to steal the horse but could not.At last,the dacoit resorted to a dirty trick.He posed himself to be a lame man who needed some help to cross the jungle.The saint who was on the horse gave his horse to the dacoit out of generosity.As the dacoit mounted the horse, he laughed and disclosed his identity.The saint smiled and said that this act would break the trust of all those who genuinely help the needy.

    The dacoit gave the horse back to the saint and went away.

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  3. Life is strange . People stranger !
    Yet another story to drive home a point .
    Once a renowned saint was invited by the villagers of a village. The villagers had been traumatised by some of their co-inhabitants. There was this group of men who always believed in conceited ways of life,treacherous and notorious ! And as nature would have it , there co-existed another group who was a sharp contrast to the nasty ones, honest and serene.
    People thronged around the saint to catch a glimpse and seek his blessings .The group of do-gooders came forward and touched the saint's feet .The saint blessed them by saying that may they spread themselves and scatter around. The notorious group too approached the saint for his blessings.The saint in his most earnest manner blessed them by saying that how he wished that their unity would multiply and that they remain united and intact .
    Both the groups were perplexed by the wise man's words !The group of serene people couldn't contain their inquisitiveness and dilemma.They politely asked the saint for the reason of such a positive remark to the undeserving people. The saint smiled and pacified their query explaining the implications of his wise words.
    He explained that surely no one would want treachery ,conceit and dishonesty to spread ! And hence it was best for them to stay united and not propagate !!!

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