Paradox Lost
Logical Solutions to Ten Puzzles of Philosophy
Authors: Huemer, Michael
Free Preview- Offers distinctive solutions to the most fascinating philosophical paradoxes
- Preserves classical logic and decision theory in solving these perennial questions
- Written in Huemer’s famously accessible writing style
- Employs the surprising conclusion that most English sentences fail to express propositions
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- About this book
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Paradox Lost covers ten of philosophy’s most fascinating paradoxes, in which seemingly compelling reasoning leads to absurd conclusions. The following paradoxes are included:
- The Liar Paradox, in which a sentence says of itself that it is false. Is the sentence true or false?
- The Sorites Paradox, in which we imagine removing grains of sand one at a time from a heap of sand. Is there a particular grain whose removal converts the heap to a non-heap?
- The Puzzle of the Self-Torturer, in which a series of seemingly rational choices has us accepting a life of excruciating pain, in exchange for millions of dollars.
- Newcomb’s Problem, in which we seemingly maximize our expected profit by taking an unknown sum of money, rather than taking the same sum plus $1000.
- The Surprise Quiz Paradox, in which a professor finds that it is impossible to give a surprise quiz on any particular day of the week . . . but also that if this is so, then a surprise quiz can be given on any day.
- The Two Envelope Paradox, in which we are asked to choose between two indistinguishable envelopes, and it is seemingly shown that each envelope is preferable to the other.
- The Ravens Paradox, in which observing a purple shoe provides evidence that all ravens are black.
- The Shooting Room Paradox, in which a deadly game kills 90% of all who play, yet each individual’s survival turns on the flip of a fair coin.
Each paradox is clearly described, common mistakes are explored, and a clear, logical solution offered. Paradox Lost will appeal to professional philosophers, students of philosophy, and all who love intellectual puzzles.
- The Liar Paradox, in which a sentence says of itself that it is false. Is the sentence true or false?
- About the authors
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Michael Huemer is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Colorado at Boulder, USA. He is the author of four other bestselling philosophy books, including The Problem of Political Authority, the winner of the 2013 PROSE Award for philosophy.
- Reviews
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“This is an engaging introduction to a number of paradoxes of interest to philosophers. Michael Huemer develops his own solutions and, along the way, offers original insights into the nature of paradox and how we should go about devising solutions. The book will be valued by beginners and established scholars alike.” (Simon Hewitt, Research Fellow in Philosophy at the University of Leeds, UK)
- Table of contents (12 chapters)
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Introduction
Pages 1-14
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The Liar
Pages 17-44
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The Sorites
Pages 45-88
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The Self-Torturer
Pages 91-106
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Newcomb’s Problem
Pages 107-132
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Table of contents (12 chapters)
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Bibliographic Information
- Bibliographic Information
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- Book Title
- Paradox Lost
- Book Subtitle
- Logical Solutions to Ten Puzzles of Philosophy
- Authors
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- Michael Huemer
- Copyright
- 2018
- Publisher
- Palgrave Macmillan
- Copyright Holder
- The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s)
- eBook ISBN
- 978-3-319-90490-0
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-3-319-90490-0
- Softcover ISBN
- 978-3-319-90489-4
- Edition Number
- 1
- Number of Pages
- XXVII, 260
- Number of Illustrations
- 20 b/w illustrations
- Topics
