Is It Possible to Defy the Limits of Human Potential?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of impossibility and human potential, exploring various claims about what is deemed impossible in a humorous and philosophical context. Participants touch on theoretical, conceptual, and anecdotal aspects of impossibility, often using playful examples and analogies.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that many things are impossible, citing examples like jumping to Mars or making someone love you.
  • Others argue that nothing is truly impossible, as everything has a probability of occurring, no matter how small.
  • A participant humorously mentions the impossibility of teaching a snake to tap-dance.
  • There are discussions about the logical implications of impossibility, including the negation of statements about impossibility.
  • Some participants provide whimsical examples, such as cows jumping over the moon and the universe changing into a gecko.
  • Several posts highlight the playful nature of the discussion, with jokes about homework deadlines and integrals.
  • There are references to philosophical figures like Russell and Gödel in relation to statements about impossibility.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the nature of impossibility, with no clear consensus reached. Some believe more things are impossible than possible, while others assert the opposite. The discussion remains unresolved with competing perspectives on the topic.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes humorous and philosophical elements, with participants using playful language and examples that may not adhere to strict logical or mathematical reasoning.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in philosophical discussions about possibility and impossibility, as well as those who enjoy light-hearted debates on abstract concepts.

wolram
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How many can you think of like, its impossible to pull your self up by your shoe strings.
 
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Impossible to make someone love you
 
There's an infinite amount of things that are impossible. I could just say it's impossible to jump to mars, then say the same thing about every other planet, moon, star or chunk of ice or rock in the universe.
 
I've seen someone jump to the moon. However, a dinosaur with 15 horns is likely impossible.
 
cronxeh said:
Impossible to make someone love you
Actually, that's quiet easy. Many people are fake in order to get someone to fall in love with them, the problem is that they can't keep up the ruse forever.
 
Jimmy Snyder said:
I've seen someone jump to the moon. However, a dinosaur with 15 horns is likely impossible.

How about a cow with 2 horns, jumping over the moon?
 
lisab said:
How about a cow with 2 horns, jumping over the moon?
Timing is esential because, based on all pictures I've seen, it needs to be a crescent moon so that the cow doesn't have as much distance to travel.
 
And the cow could wait till after moon set.
 
Impossible also says I`m possible
 
  • #10
Ignoring friction.
 
  • #11
Pengwuino said:
Ignoring friction.

Pengwino not blowing a gasket while grading homework
 
  • #12
Pengwuino said:
Ignoring friction.

It's very easy to ignore friction. Doesn't mean it's not there of course.

There are more things that are possible than impossible: If X is impossible, then not X is possible (in fact necessary). On the other hand, if X is possible, not X might also be possible, so this is not an involution

The possibility hypothesis: Is the set of things that is possible the same cardinality as the set of things which is impossible, or are they different sizes? Alternatively, is this question unanswerable?
 
  • #13
Office_Shredder said:
There are more things that are possible than impossible: If X is impossible, then not X is possible (in fact necessary).
I think more things are impossible than possible. For instance, it is well know that barbers can't shave themselves nor can they fail to shave themselves.
 
  • #14
While I can't say that it's absolutely impossible, I've had no success whatsoever in trying to teach a snake to tap-dance.
 
  • #15
I know someone who can neither enter into the USA nor capable of sexual activities.
 
  • #16
Everything has a probability, no matter how vanishingly small, of occurring.

Nothing is impossible.

Therefore, more things are possible than impossible.
 
  • #17
Char. Limit said:
Nothing is impossible.

Obviously you've never been married.
 
  • #18
Char. Limit said:
Everything has a probability, no matter how vanishingly small, of occurring.

Nothing is impossible.

Therefore, more things are possible than impossible.

Proof?

I think not.
 
  • #19
Ivan Seeking said:
Obviously you've never been married.

Nope.

Pengwuino said:
Proof?

I think not.

If x>0, is it not true that x>0?
 
  • #20
Jimmy Snyder said:
I think more things are impossible than possible. For instance, it is well know that barbers can't shave themselves nor can they fail to shave themselves.

The barber's a woman!

not is a logical negation. So if the original statement is: It's impossible for barber's to shave themselves, then the negation is it's possible that barber's can not shave themselves. Basically, if something is impossible then it's possible that it's impossible. If you have a reverse inclusion or a surjection feel free to share it

Char. Limit said:
If x>0, is it not true that x>0?

If x>0, there's a small possibility that I was referring to complex numbers the whole time and there is no field ordering available
 
  • #21
Danger said:
While I can't say that it's absolutely impossible, I've had no success whatsoever in trying to teach a snake to tap-dance.

LOL, I'm sure you could animate it some how.
 
  • #22
Office_Shredder said:
So if the original statement is: It's impossible for barber's to shave themselves, then the negation is it's possible that barber's can not shave themselves.
I'm pretty sure that the negation of "It's impossible for barbers to shave themselves" is "It's possible for barbers to shave themselves". But Russell and Godel made the big bucks by claiming that both statements were themselves impossible.
 
  • #23
It is impossible for this thread to reach 10,000 posts.
:cool:
 
  • #24
It's impossible for my fingernail to form into a black hole within 5 seconds as I sit here now.
 
  • #25
It's impossible for the entire universe to spontaneously change into a lone gecko floating in space.
 
  • #26
I have a knack for doing the impossible. :biggrin:
 
  • #27
pallidin said:
It's impossible for the entire universe to spontaneously change into a lone gecko floating in space.

Have to get rid of the turtle first.
 
  • #28
wolram said:
Have to get rid of the turtle first.

I know a good soup recipe
 
  • #29
wolram said:
Have to get rid of the turtle first.

This made me laugh, I'll admit.
 
  • #30
cronxeh said:
Impossible to make someone love you

too easy unfortunately.. or fortunately for some
 

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