What Is a Paradox?
1. The Crocodile Paradox
In the Middle Ages, there was a term known as “crocodolite,” which was a reference to this paradox when faced with paradoxical situations. The paradox goes that one day, a young boy and his mother were by the riverside, and a crocodile appears and snatches the boy away. The mother pleads with the crocodile for the boy’s safe return, and they agree to a deal. If the mother guesses correctly whether or not he will return the boy, then the boy will be returned.
If the mother guesses correctly that the boy will not be returned, then the croc must still return the boy, in contrary to the mother’s guess. If her guess is wrong then the croc must keep the boy despite not having intended to do so.
