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Hangman

In: One Hundred Prisoners and a Light Bulb

Author

Listed:
  • Hans van Ditmarsch

    (Université de Lorraine, LORIA, CNRS)

  • Barteld Kooi

    (University of Groningen, Faculty of Philosophy)

Abstract

At a trial a prisoner is sentenced to death by the judge. The verdict reads “You will be executed next week, but the day on which you will be executed will be a surprise to you.” The prisoner reasons as follows. “I cannot be executed on Friday, because in that case I would not be surprised. But given that Friday is eliminated, then I cannot be executed on Thursday either, because that would then no longer be a surprise. And so on. Therefore the execution will not take place.” And so, his execution, that happened to be on Wednesday, came as a surprise.

Suggested Citation

  • Hans van Ditmarsch & Barteld Kooi, 2015. "Hangman," Springer Books, in: One Hundred Prisoners and a Light Bulb, edition 127, chapter 2, pages 13-19, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-319-16694-0_2
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-16694-0_2
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