What is the Paradox of the Benefactor? Imagine you help an elderly neighbor carry groceries, and you feel good for doing it. Now, there’s a tricky question here: since you felt good, does that mean you weren’t really being totally selfless? The Paradox of the Benefactor is all about this puzzle. It asks if you can truly be giving just to help others, without getting anything for yourse... »
What is the Paradox of the False Promise? The “Paradox of the False Promise” happens when someone says they will do something in the future but plans not to do it. Normally, a promise is thought to be a sure thing—a sign that something will definitely happen or not happen later on. This idea becomes tricky when we try to figure out if the person really ever meant to keep their promise.... »
Understanding the Paradox of the Surprise Test The Paradox of the Surprise Test is a tricky problem that makes you wonder about the things we cannot predict, even when we know they will happen. Imagine your teacher says you will have a pop quiz next week, but you won’t know when. That’s the setup for the paradox. It’s about figuring out whether something can still be a surprise i... »
What is the Paradox Of The Unexpected Examination? Have you ever been in a situation where you expect something to happen, but at the same time, you really have no idea when it will occur? This is what the Paradox of the Unexpected Examination is all about. It’s a tricky puzzle that messes with our minds because it involves something that is meant to be a complete surprise. So, imagine it’s the be... »
What is the Paradox of Tristram Shandy? The Paradox of Tristram Shandy is like a brain teaser that gets you to think about some really strange ideas involving time and tasks that never end. To give you a detailed but simple definition, it could be seen in two ways: Firstly, imagine having a book you’re writing about your life, but for every single day’s events that unfold, it somehow takes y... »
Understanding the Paradox of the Stone Imagine the strongest person in the universe, someone who can do absolutely anything they want – like a superhero or a mighty God. The Paradox of the Stone asks if this super powerful being can make a rock so heavy that even they can’t lift it. This question is tricky because if they can make such a rock, it seems they aren’t all-powerful si... »
Understanding the Paradox of the Arrow Have you ever watched an arrow zip through the air and hit a target? It looks pretty straightforward, right? Well, the Paradox of the Arrow makes us question whether that arrow is actually moving. This ancient puzzle was brought up by a Greek thinker named Zeno of Elea to make people think harder about how we see movement and time. The paradox suggests a real... »
What is the Paradox Of The Tortoise And Achilles? The Paradox of the Tortoise and Achilles is a puzzle from a long time ago, created by a Greek thinker named Zeno. Imagine a race where Achilles, a fast runner, can’t catch up to a slow tortoise because of a twist in logic. Here’s how it goes in simple terms: A tortoise is given a head start in a race against Achilles. Achilles starts ru... »
What is the Paradox Of The Heap? The Paradox of the Heap, which is sometimes called the ‘Sorites Paradox’, is a tricky puzzle that makes us think hard about how we use words and what they really mean. Imagine you have something like a pile of pieces, like sand or stones, and we call it a ‘heap’. If you were to take away one piece at a time, would it still be a heap? At what... »
What is the Paradox of the Baseline? The Paradox of the Baseline sounds complicated, but let’s break it down. Imagine you’re at the start line of a track, waiting to race the second you hear the bang of the gun. This ‘start line’ is what we call the ‘baseline’, and it’s where we begin to measure any sort of change or improvement. Now, this becomes tricky, ... »