Alicorn comments on Anime Explains the Epimenides Paradox - Less Wrong

-1 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 27 May 2009 09:12PM

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Comment author: Alicorn 01 June 2009 12:10:02PM 12 points [-]

That's not a paradox if you distinguish between a lie and a false statement. If Pinnochio does not expect his nose to grow, then he is lying, and his nose will grow; he has lied but in so doing made a coincidentally true statement. If he does expect his nose to grow, then he is telling the truth as far as he is able, and it will not grow, even though he would be mistaken in the statement.

If Pinnochio's nose detected absolute truth, then there really should have been a subplot in the story about people who want to kidnap him and pose him questions to determine the ultimate nature of the universe.

Comment author: [deleted] 10 February 2014 04:32:39PM 1 point [-]

If Pinnochio's nose detected absolute truth, then there really should have been a subplot in the story about people who want to kidnap him and pose him questions to determine the ultimate nature of the universe.

Or just make shitloads of money by asking him about the results of upcoming football matches and betting on them.

Comment author: JGWeissman 01 June 2009 06:35:05PM *  0 points [-]

If Pinocchio's nose detected absolute truth, then there really should have been a subplot in the story about people who want to kidnap him and pose him questions to determine the ultimate nature of the universe.

Ha ha ha. Mad Computer Scientist: "And now, Pinocchio, I would like to you to assert that 'P=NP'."

(I was just primed by reading this.)