The Barber paradox is an application of Russell's paradox. By thinking the paradox like this, visualising and adapting it to real life, it becomes more easier and convenient to analyze and think through.
This application was used by Bertrand Russell himself as an illustration of his original paradox (see the page Russell's Paradox). Russell attributes this paradox to an unnamed person who came up with this idea in the first place. "It shows that an apparently plausible scenario is logically impossible." (Barber Paradox)
This application was used by Bertrand Russell himself as an illustration of his original paradox (see the page Russell's Paradox). Russell attributes this paradox to an unnamed person who came up with this idea in the first place. "It shows that an apparently plausible scenario is logically impossible." (Barber Paradox)
http://swiftthebarber.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/barber.jpg
Consider the following scenario:
A barbar decides to shave everyone who does not shave himself. The barber shaves nobody else but those men.
Then, who shaves the barber?
If we consider the case in which the barber shaves himself, we will end up facing the definitive phrase as an obstacle. This barber shaves only those who do not shave themselves, remember? In this case if he shaves himself, he doesn't shave himself. This is self-contradictory.
The same logic applies: if the barber does not shave himself, then since the barber shaves 'everyone' who does not shave themselves, he shaves himself. But then, for the sake of definitive statement, he doesn't shave himself!
Then, who shaves the barber?
Works Cited
"Barber Paradox." Princeton University. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.
"The Barber Paradox." Logical Paradoxes. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.
A barbar decides to shave everyone who does not shave himself. The barber shaves nobody else but those men.
Then, who shaves the barber?
If we consider the case in which the barber shaves himself, we will end up facing the definitive phrase as an obstacle. This barber shaves only those who do not shave themselves, remember? In this case if he shaves himself, he doesn't shave himself. This is self-contradictory.
The same logic applies: if the barber does not shave himself, then since the barber shaves 'everyone' who does not shave themselves, he shaves himself. But then, for the sake of definitive statement, he doesn't shave himself!
Then, who shaves the barber?
Works Cited
"Barber Paradox." Princeton University. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.
"The Barber Paradox." Logical Paradoxes. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.