Barber's Paradox: Did He Shave Himself?

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SUMMARY

The Barber's Paradox illustrates a logical inconsistency regarding a barber who shaves only those men who do not shave themselves. The discussion reveals that if the barber shaves himself, he contradicts his own rule, leading to the conclusion that no such barber can exist. Participants also explored variations of the paradox, including the existence of two barbers in Seville, one well-groomed and the other disheveled, further complicating the narrative. Ultimately, the consensus is that the paradox serves as a philosophical problem rather than a practical one.

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  • #31
No one shaves the barber since the barber has a beard.
 
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  • #32
Chuck Norris shaved the barber.
 
  • #33
DaveC426913 said:
Part II:
A little known fact: There were actually TWO barbers in Seville (and the next nearest barber is a hundred mile train ride away in Quadalquivir).

The barber mentioned by Edguardo runs a very tight ship; his shop is spotlessly clean, as is his attire. He has perfectly groomed nails, teeth and hair - the very model of a clean, well-groomed gentleman. The other barber, on the other side of the tracks has a dirty shop, with hair on the floor. He's dressed in old clothes, with grimy nails, yellow teeth, B.O. and a terrible haircut - he's a slob.

You've just blown into town for a convention and absolutely must get a haircut. Who do you go to?

Who charges less?? The second guy sounds like my dad. Tell him I said 'hey'
 
  • #34
The Barber of Seville was actually a code name for a CIA operative investigating a former Soviet scientist now allegedly in the employ of Al Qaeda. From what little can be gleaned from the below records, between the years of 2000 and 2004 the "Barber" investigateed at least three unidentifed suspects in the Seville area. Former CIA employee Valerie Plame confirms that the CIA would regularly use the euphamism "close shave" to refer to missed assassination attempts, and a "full shave" to indicate one was successful. Operatives in the field were equipped with a singe cyanide suicide pill, and hence could "shave" themselves to avoid capture. As we all know, the Barber did not shave himself, and hence must still be alive and perhaps even working for the CIA today

A request through the Open Records Act to the CIA retrieved this censored debriefing file on the mission, complete with review notes and fingerprint smudges

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/3598/thebarberofseville.jpg
 
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  • #35
Who said the barber even HAD hair to shave :smile:
 
  • #36
AUMathTutor said:
Chuck Norris shaved the barber.

He also one time struck lightening.
 
  • #37
couldn't he just wax? :P
 

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