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From: FtG@rochester.UUCP (FtG)
Newsgroups: net.math
Subject: Re: surprize quiz
Message-ID: <2893@rochester.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Sep-83 15:44:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: rocheste.2893
Posted: Mon Sep 12 15:44:46 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 13-Sep-83 10:22:04 EDT
References: <627@ihuxr.UUCP>
Organization: U. of Rochester, CS Dept.
Lines: 10

The surprise quiz and its variations, like "The Unexpected Hanging" (Gardner)
are NOT really paradoxes. They are merely true statements. 

1. It is not possible to make a RATIONAL choice that no other RATIONAL
person can not anticipate.

2. People make IRRATIONAL choices all the time. Pick Wednesday. (Why? Why not.)

The everyday world bears very little relation to the perfect world of logic.
					FtG