Protogoras' Paradox!

Many years ago, a Law teacher came across a student who was willing to learn but was unable to pay the fees.

The student struck a deal saying, "I will pay your fee the day I win my first case in the court".

The teacher agreed and proceeded with the law course. When the course was finished, the teacher started pestering the student to pay up the fee but the student reminded him of the deal and pushed on evasively.

Fed up with this, the teacher decided to sue the student in the Court of Law and they both decided to argue for themselves.

The teacher put forward his argument saying : "If I win this case, as per the law, the student has to pay me as the case is about his non-payment of dues. And if I lose the case, the student has still to pay me since he would have won his first case......So, either way I will get the money".

Equally brilliant, the student argued back saying : "If I win the case, as per the court of law, I don't have to pay anything to the teacher as the case is about my non-payment of dues. And if I lose the case, I don't have to pay him because I haven't won my first case yet.....So either way, I am not going to pay the teacher anything".

This is one of the greatest paradoxes ever recorded.

Who is right and who is the winner? This is part of ancient Greek history. The law teacher was Protagoras (c.485 - 415 BCE) and the student was Euthalos.

This is known as Protagoras's Paradox. This case was not solved.

The most interesting part - this is still debated (even today) in law schools as a logic problem.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

Off to the SBI, to give our particulars for the card.

Went see the matinee show of the Prithviraj - Nayantara Malayalam flick "Gold" that was quite unbearable.

Earlier in the day, I'd given clearance to Captain Jaison Paul, SO (Welfare), HQSNC to ask schools to interact with me being a gallantry award winner. Two schools of Ernakulam had contacted.