Brain Teasers
Philosophy, math and poets
Are these 4 statements logically compatible?
#1-Some mathematicians are philosophers.
#2-Immortals are ignorant of philosophy
#3-No poet practices mathematics.
#4-All mortals are poets.
#1-Some mathematicians are philosophers.
#2-Immortals are ignorant of philosophy
#3-No poet practices mathematics.
#4-All mortals are poets.
Answer
Start with the statement #2. If immortals are ignorant of philosophy, philosophers must be mortals, otherwise they would be ignorant of philosophy. Since statement #4 says all mortals are poets, philosophers must be poets. Since statement #3 says no poet practices mathematics, no philosopher does either. So, a mathematician cannot be a philosopher, which makes statement #1 inconsistent with the other 3 statements.Hide Answer Show Answer
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