If you break the laws of physics, do you go to jail?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the hypothetical scenario of breaking the laws of physics and whether such an act would result in jail time. It explores the implications of this idea in a humorous and philosophical context, touching on concepts of legality, scientific principles, and societal responses.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the feasibility of breaking the laws of physics, suggesting that if it is impossible, then the answer to whether one goes to jail must be "yes."
  • Others humorously propose that instead of jail, one might be "locked up in a black hole" or "go back to school."
  • A participant suggests that breaking a law of physics might lead to a Nobel prize, implying that one would need to replace the broken law with a new one.
  • There are repeated assertions that if one could never break the laws of physics, then the cases where one does must be empty, leading to a paradoxical conclusion of both "yes" and "no" regarding jail time.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of humorous and serious responses, with no consensus on whether breaking the laws of physics would lead to jail time. The discussion remains unresolved, with multiple competing views presented.

Contextual Notes

The discussion relies on playful interpretations of the laws of physics and legal consequences, with no formal definitions or frameworks established for what constitutes "breaking" these laws.

Jupiter60
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If you break the laws of physics, do you go to jail?
 
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Would that even be possible?
 
StevieTNZ said:
Would that even be possible?
If it is not possible then the answer must be "yes".

And "no".
 
No, but your patent application may be rejected.
 
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jbriggs444 said:
If it is not possible then the answer must be "yes".

And "no".
So you do go to jail?
 
Yes, we'll lock you up in a black hole
 
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Jupiter60 said:
If you break the laws of physics, do you go to jail?
No, you go back to school. :smile:
 
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Jupiter60 said:
If you break the laws of physics, do you go to jail?
Probably not, but Newton would be very annoyed with you.
 
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StevieTNZ said:
So you do go to jail?

Yes. Go directly to jail. Do not collect 200 dollars.
 
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My dad went to jail. Tired of the banks collecting money from him, so he collected money from them.
 
  • #11
I thought, if you break a law of Physics, they gave you a Nobel prize.
But perhaps first you have to replace the one you broke?

Edit: With a new one I mean.

And it would be a funny sort of trial, with you trying to persuade people you really had broken the law, but the judges trying to prove you didn't!
 
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  • #12
StevieTNZ said:
So you do go to jail?
Yes. And no.

To explain the joke...

If you can never break the laws of physics then the set of cases where you do must be empty. In every such case you go to jail. And in every such case you don't.
 
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