(6 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)A peasant is convicted in China. He gets the death penalty. The judge allows him to say a last sentence in order to determine the way the penalty will be carried out. If the peasant lies, he will be hanged, if he speaks the truth he will be beheaded.
The peasant speaks a last sentence and to everybody surprise some minutes later he is set free because the judge cannot determine his penalty.
What did the peasant said?
Answer With Explanation
Answer: he said ‘I will be hanged!’
Explanation:
Now, if this statement is true: he should be beheaded, but then this statement will become false.
If we assume this statement is false: he should be hanged, but then this statement will become true.
Explanation:
Now, if this statement is true: he should be beheaded, but then this statement will become false.
If we assume this statement is false: he should be hanged, but then this statement will become true.
So the judge can not decide.
He said nothing. He did not lie or say the truth, therefore is sentence could not be determined.
he said ‘I shall be hanged!’ If the peasant was lying, he would be hanged. But that’s what the peasant was saying. So he speaks the truth. But if he speaks the truth, he would be beheaded, so then he was not speaking the truth. So it isbecomes a paradoxand couldnt be determined wether the peasant speaks the truth or not. So therefore the judge cannot determine the penalty and sets the peasant free.
Good logic.
what if he says.. i will be beheaded ? @amlan