A simple thought experiment

Hooray, a thought experiment! Just like old times! No one? Sigh...

Suppose there is someone you trust, and someone you don't trust. Let's call them Alice and Bob respectively. You are presented with the following scenarios independently of each other. Each time you are asked to evaluate a statement: you can either accept it completely or you can doubt it. Assume you have no contact with the outside world, and have not had contact for an unknown period of time. Also, assume that you are familiar with elementary arithmetic, in which the statement that 2 + 2 = 4 is true.

1. Alice tells you that 2 + 2 = 4.
2. Bob tells you that 2 + 2 = 4.
3. Alice tells you that today is a Tuesday.
4. Bob tells you that today is a Tuesday.

How do you evaluate them? Do any of the experiment constraints not apply to you? Just what is the purpose of this thought experiment?

You may answer any or all of them. Have at it!

reply to post by Tadeusz


I know math. I know the days of the week. Logic tells me that Alice and Bob are telling me the truth.

So, what is the point of your thread.

Des

The bitch is lying...

Oh wait it isn't that kind of test, sorry.



The point of this "test" is about females verses males right?

reply to post by Destinyone


The point is are you going to judge information by someone you don't trust even if it's the same information from someone you do. It's to test to see how judgemental you are. If bob told you the answer is 4 before alice did and you didn't know the answer. To clear this up it's not exactly the math equation that's a metaphorical example. Would you accept it. Just to have alice whom you do trust tell you the samething. This experiment is to show you who you are to yourself potentially.

Originally posted by mileysubet
The bitch is lying...

Oh wait it isn't that kind of test, sorry.



The point of this "test" is about females verses males right?

oooh...let's run with that. I like your astute observation of the sublime.....

Girls are better than Boys.... Tag, you're it....

Des

Alice is telling the truth and is being copied by Bob.

Originally posted by Destinyone

Originally posted by mileysubet
The bitch is lying...

Oh wait it isn't that kind of test, sorry.



The point of this "test" is about females verses males right?

oooh...let's run with that. I like your astute observation of the sublime.....

Girls are better than Boys....

Tag, you're it....

Des

I lost at "tag"...

reply to post by Manunnaki


Too late OP. mileysubet and I are running in a different direction....

That's what happens when you ask a vague question....

Des

Originally posted by Logmafia
Alice is telling the truth and is being copied by Bob.

Score:

Alice 2

Bob 1

reply to post by mileysubet


Ok tag is out. How are you at Simon Sez....or dodge ball....you decide.

Score:

Alice 4

Bob 1

reply to post by Destinyone


Sorry not the op.

Originally posted by Manunnaki
reply to post by Destinyone

 

Sorry not the op.

Mea Culpa...my bad...

Where did the OP go. Is this another drive by thread.

Des

Originally posted by Tadeusz
1. Alice tells you that 2 + 2 = 4.
2. Bob tells you that 2 + 2 = 4.
3. Alice tells you that today is a Tuesday.
4. Bob tells you that today is a Tuesday.

I'd trust them half the time.
Like all humans, sometimes they makes honest mistakes, such as in this example.
Today is a Friday.

The OP is waiting for someone of a... higher intelligence class to respond.

* tumbleweed tumbles *

What, what? Am I supposed to just give up?

Reading comprehension fail on my part.

I'd go with my gut instinct & intuition... It never fails.
That and I can read microexpressions and body language like nobody's business!

Originally posted by alfa1

Originally posted by Tadeusz
1. Alice tells you that 2 + 2 = 4.
2. Bob tells you that 2 + 2 = 4.
3. Alice tells you that today is a Tuesday.
4. Bob tells you that today is a Tuesday.

I'd trust them half the time.
Like all humans, sometimes they makes honest mistakes, such as in this example.
Today is a Friday.

Originally posted by Tadeusz
Assume you have no contact with the outside world, and have not had contact for an unknown period of time.

Originally posted by Tadeusz
The OP is waiting for someone slightly more... intelligent to respond.

What, what? Should I give up?

Well the OP should post a more intellectual observation/question then.

Originally posted by Tadeusz
The OP is waiting for someone slightly more... intelligent to respond.

What, what? Should I give up?

I apologize for wearing my party hat. On a more serious note. The trust I would show in either Alice or Bob, would naturally be proportionate to the trust I had in myself to make a value judgement. The degree of self trust would be contingent on current environmental influences.

Des

Originally posted by Destinyone

Originally posted by Tadeusz
The OP is waiting for someone slightly more... intelligent to respond.

What, what? Should I give up?

I apologize for wearing my party hat. On a more serious note. The trust I would show in either Alice or Bob, would naturally be proportionate to the trust I had in myself to make a value judgement. The degree of self trust would be contingent on current environmental influences.

Des

But yet the OP gives no environmental influences, so should we assume them?

This reminds me of an old logic puzzle involving one who always lies and one who always tells the truth. The way to determine who is lying is by asking both an abstract question. "Are you a parrot?" The liar will say yes.