Anyone Know This Problem ('The Hanging Judge')?

SkinkHero · 06-28-2008, 12:13 PM

This is from 101 Philosophical problems.

The hanging judge

Now Judge Dread had had many disagreeable people before him, but this one, who styled himself ‘the Philosopher’, despite never having studied the subject, had really annoyed him. Dread says:

‘I intend to teach you the value of honesty, prisoner. You have been found guilty of being a crook and a swindler and of repeatedly and systematically lying to the court to try to save your wretched skin. Well, justice has caught up with you now, my friend. The sentence of this court is…’ (here the Judge pauses for effect and dons a pair of black gloves and a little black hat) ‘…that you be taken from here to a place of execution and hanged by the neck until you are dead.

… BUT, as I am a magnanimous Judge, I shall give you one more opportunity to learn the value of truth. If, on the day of your execution, you sign a statement making one true declaration, the sentence will be commuted to ten years imprisonment. If, on the other hand, your statement is, in the view of the Chief Executioner, false, the sentence will be carried out immediately. And I warn you,’ Dread adds, seeing his words having no effect on the crook, ‘the Chief is a member of the Logical Positivist Executioners’ Club and will dismiss any metaphysical nonsense as false, so don’t try any of your tricks on her! There, now you have one day in which to make your choice!’

At this the jury applaud at the severity of the sentence and everyone in the courtroom looks at the defendant, pleased to see such a villain get a heavy sentence, coupled with the humiliating public true declaration. But, strangely, the Philosopher just smirks back as he is led away to Death Row.

The day of the execution arrives and the crook, beaming, signs a declaration which is handed to the Chief Executioner who reads it with growing bewilderment. Then, snarling, she crumples it up and orders the Philosopher be released, with no penalty whatsoever to be imposed.

What could the prisoner have said in the statement to have saved himself?

SizeableSSonic · 06-28-2008, 03:12 PM

"I don't want to die."

?

Scuzzy · 06-28-2008, 03:25 PM

1=1

Zydell · 06-28-2008, 03:43 PM

“I am going to be hanged.”

bokko · 06-28-2008, 03:45 PM

"Al Gore really deserved that nobel prize!"

Hawk Eye · 06-28-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zydell

“I am going to be hanged.”

Methinks this would be it. I can only see a statement that would create a paradox upon sentencing to have him go without any punishment.

Nezumi · 06-29-2008, 01:06 AM

"The chief executioner is a man."

reaper18 · 06-29-2008, 01:13 AM

"My asshole is going to burn for the rest of my life. does anyone have any K-Y?"

פֿяαιп βαмαgεפ · 06-29-2008, 08:27 AM

"I wet myself"

CatzEyes93 · 06-29-2008, 04:29 PM

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone?

06-28-2008, 12:13 PM	#1
SkinkHero Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: UK Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Anyone Know This Problem ('The Hanging Judge')? This is from 101 Philosophical problems. The hanging judge Now Judge Dread had had many disagreeable people before him, but this one, who styled himself ‘the Philosopher’, despite never having studied the subject, had really annoyed him. Dread says: ‘I intend to teach you the value of honesty, prisoner. You have been found guilty of being a crook and a swindler and of repeatedly and systematically lying to the court to try to save your wretched skin. Well, justice has caught up with you now, my friend. The sentence of this court is…’ (here the Judge pauses for effect and dons a pair of black gloves and a little black hat) ‘…that you be taken from here to a place of execution and hanged by the neck until you are dead. … BUT, as I am a magnanimous Judge, I shall give you one more opportunity to learn the value of truth. If, on the day of your execution, you sign a statement making one true declaration, the sentence will be commuted to ten years imprisonment. If, on the other hand, your statement is, in the view of the Chief Executioner, false, the sentence will be carried out immediately. And I warn you,’ Dread adds, seeing his words having no effect on the crook, ‘the Chief is a member of the Logical Positivist Executioners’ Club and will dismiss any metaphysical nonsense as false, so don’t try any of your tricks on her! There, now you have one day in which to make your choice!’ At this the jury applaud at the severity of the sentence and everyone in the courtroom looks at the defendant, pleased to see such a villain get a heavy sentence, coupled with the humiliating public true declaration. But, strangely, the Philosopher just smirks back as he is led away to Death Row. The day of the execution arrives and the crook, beaming, signs a declaration which is handed to the Chief Executioner who reads it with growing bewilderment. Then, snarling, she crumples it up and orders the Philosopher be released, with no penalty whatsoever to be imposed. What could the prisoner have said in the statement to have saved himself?

06-28-2008, 03:12 PM	#2
SizeableSSonic Joystick Junkie D&A Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: I know where YOU live! Class/Position: Engineer or Sniper Gametype: CTF Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	"I don't want to die." ? __________________ I like chocolate milk.

06-28-2008, 03:25 PM	#3
Scuzzy The Old Timers Clan D&A Member Retired FF Staff Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Server: 206.217.134.170:27016 Posts Rated Helpful 2 Times	1=1 __________________ "Player Quality, not Quantity, is what we strive for." - The LLama Wrangler "A clan is defined by the nature of it's enemies. - The Llama Wrangler

06-29-2008, 01:06 AM	#7
Nezumi Retired FF Staff Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Peoples Republic of Harmfull Free Radicals. Class/Position: Soldier, O Gametype: Doubble Mode Affiliations: Cassiotone Nation Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	"The chief executioner is a man." __________________ TG: pretty much you have no idea how much i fuckin own at this game. TG: i bested no less than three flaming tornados and broke a huge wizard.

06-29-2008, 04:29 PM	#10
CatzEyes93 Black Mesa Voice Actor Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 3 Times	Let he who is without sin cast the first stone? __________________ ___________________ Random Thoughts Only CatzEyes93.com

06-28-2008, 03:43 PM	#4
Zydell Ex-king D&A Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Netherlands Affiliations: Knights of the Round Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	“I am going to be hanged.”

06-28-2008, 03:45 PM	#5
bokko when ff will out? D&A Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	"Al Gore really deserved that nobel prize!"

06-29-2008, 01:13 AM	#8
reaper18 sKeeD D&A Member Beta Tester Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Class/Position: Scout, Demo, Solly Gametype: Any Posts Rated Helpful 21 Times	"My asshole is going to burn for the rest of my life. does anyone have any K-Y?"

06-29-2008, 08:27 AM	#9
פֿяαιп βαмαgεפ Annoying people since 1986 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Belgium a.k.a. absurdistan Class/Position: O fatty, pyro - D engy, pyro Gametype: CTF Affiliations: This space for rent. Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	"I wet myself"

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