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Full Idea
The Barber Paradox refers to the non-existent property of being a barber who shaves all and only those persons who do not shave themselves.
Gist of Idea
Can a Barber shave all and only those persons who do not shave themselves?
Source
Dale Jacquette (Ontology [2002], Ch. 9)
Book Ref
Jacquette,Dale: 'Ontology' [Acumen 2002], p.219
A Reaction
[Russell spotted this paradox, and it led to his Theory of Types]. This paradox may throw light on the logic of indexicals. What does "you" mean when I say to myself "you idiot!"? If I can behave as two persons, so can the barber.
| 6407 | The class of classes which lack self-membership leads to a contradiction [Russell, by Grayling] |
| 13365 | Russell's Paradox is a stripped-down version of Cantor's Paradox [Priest,G on Russell] |
| 10711 | Russell's paradox means we cannot assume that every property is collectivizing [Potter on Russell] |
| 21689 | A barber shaves only those who do not shave themselves. So does he shave himself? [Quine] |
| 21694 | Membership conditions which involve membership and non-membership are paradoxical [Quine] |
| 7701 | Can a Barber shave all and only those persons who do not shave themselves? [Jacquette] |
| 10673 | Plural language can discuss without inconsistency things that are not members of themselves [Hossack] |