Benardete's paradox

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English[edit]

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Etymology[edit]

Formulated by J. A. Benardete.

Proper noun[edit]

Benardete's paradox

  1. (philosophy) A philosophical problem whereby a man intends to walk a mile from a particular point, but an infinity of gods separately plan to obstruct him. One of them will raise a barrier to stop his further advance if he reaches the half-mile point, a second if he reaches the quarter-mile point, a third if he goes one-eighth of a mile, and so on ad infinitum. The paradox involves the fact that (i) the man cannot begin walking, because a barrier will stop him even at the shortest distance, but (ii) if he does not begin walking, no barrier will rise.

See also[edit]