Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

buridan's bridge

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables
buri-dan's bridge
IPA
21
Scrabble Score
14
Letters
2
Syllables
10
Unique Chars

Meaning

name

A self-referential paradox involving a proposition pronounced about an event that might or might not happen in the future. Socrates wishes to cross a bridge guarded by Plato, who says that if the next proposition Socrates utters is true, Socrates will be permitted to cross, but otherwise he will be thrown into the water. Socrates replies, "You will throw me into the water." Plato is then in a paradoxical situation regarding how to treat Socrates.

Etymology

Described by Jean Buridan.

Questions

What does buridan's bridge mean?
A self-referential paradox involving a proposition pronounced about an event that might or might not happen in the future. Socrates wishes to cross a bridge guarded by Plato, who says that if the next proposition Socrates utters is true, Socrates will be permitted to cross, but otherwise he will be thrown into the water. Socrates replies, "You will throw me into the water." Plato is then in a paradoxical situation regarding how to treat Socrates.
Where does buridan's bridge come from?
Described by Jean Buridan.

How to pronounce buridan's bridge

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