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Not A Poet
Member Elite

since 1999-11-03

Posts 3885
Oklahoma, USA

0 posted 2002-01-29 03:07 PM

A triolet inspired by a question Shou-Lao (Oops sorry, I said Brad originally instead of Shou-Lao) presented in the Philosophy Forum. We haven't seen any of these in a while.

Liar Paradox

A paradox: This statement is not true.
But if not true then false it has to be
And yet, if false, then true it would be too,
A paradox, this statement is not true,
But false or true, it cannot be the two.
With clarity, I think that all should see
The paradox, this statement is not true,
For if not true then false it cannot be.

[This message has been edited by Not A Poet (01-29-2002 04:11 PM).]

Phaedrus
Member

since 2002-01-26

Posts 180

1 posted 2002-01-29 03:44 PM

I thought for a minute I’d wandered into the wrong forum!

This is cleverly put together Pete.

hush
Senior Member

since 2001-05-27

Posts 1653
Ohio, USA

2 posted 2002-02-03 09:21 PM

This is cute. I love wordplay like this.

"Maybe you don't like your job
maybe you didn't get enough sleep.
Well nobody likes their job;
nobody got enought sleep."

Christopher

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-08-02

Posts 8296
Purgatorial Incarceration

3 posted 2002-02-06 04:03 PM

you're making me dizzy pete...

semi-colons? perhaps, i see a couple of places where it might help - truthfully, i think that while the idea is fascinating (both the paradox itself and the concept of the poem) it reads really hard... 'course maybe i'm just still dizzy.

this might work better with a looser rhyme scheme, or none at all...? my op

peace,

C

sunbunbun
Junior Member

since 2002-02-07

Posts 21
Durham, NC

4 posted 2002-02-07 04:03 PM

Fun, fun, fun! The word play is awesome.

SBB

Knowledge empowers,
words a tool,
poetry a vision.

Brad
Member Ascendant

since 1999-08-20

Posts 5705
Jejudo, South Korea

5 posted 2002-02-10 04:30 PM

Smooth as ice, Pete.

Not A Poet
Member Elite

since 1999-11-03

Posts 3885
Oklahoma, USA

6 posted 2002-02-14 03:05 PM

Thanks guys. I was fun.

Pete

Roberta Little
Junior Member

since 2001-12-18

Posts 42
beloit wi usa

7 posted 2005-03-19 12:29 PM

I thought that was kinda cool. Good job.

GOD's greatist gift is LOVE

Always Lisa
Member

since 2003-06-08

Posts 133

8 posted 2005-03-28 10:11 PM

>Thanks guys. I was fun.

>Pete

Is that a paradox too? Grins*

Always Lisa

Not A Poet
Member Elite

since 1999-11-03

Posts 3885
Oklahoma, USA

9 posted 2005-03-29 09:33 AM

quote:
>Thanks guys. I was fun.

You're Always (fun) Lisa.

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

10 posted 2005-03-29 10:58 AM

Thoroughly enjoyed this...
and in reading through the responses?
Decided that Christopher is just being himself...

Dizzy.

LOL...

Good job, Pete!

netsky
Member

since 2005-03-29

Posts 148
Miami

11 posted 2005-04-06 01:44 AM

I enjoy but hung up on the logic of the opening line:

"A paradox: This statement is not true"

Is not truly a statement. It is not a statement because it makes no assertion except to say "this statement" is false.

But no statement was made. Only the word "statement", which is neither true nor false nor anything but a blank.

Ergo, the premise of the poem is a trick without basis in real logic. It tricks in readers who don't think along natural laws of reason.

For example, another red herring:

"True is false"

means absolutely nothing, either.

Other than my objection to the premise the poem is good and solidly put together.

SEA

Moderator

Member Seraphic

since 2000-01-18

Posts 22676
with you

12 posted 2005-04-06 03:47 PM

no...it made me dizzy too

neat though...

Not A Poet
Member Elite

since 1999-11-03

Posts 3885
Oklahoma, USA

13 posted 2005-04-06 06:40 PM

For some reason I can't seem to find that Philosophy thread that inspired this. But the statement "This statement is not true" is a classic logic paradox. If it is not true then the statement is truthful. Think about it. That thread went into great detail discussing it. I wish I could find it.

longte
Member

since 2005-04-06

Posts 199
Australia

14 posted 2005-04-07 03:34 AM

Really good FUN

Any poem that makes you think or involves you in it is great
This is a really good example

netsky
Member

since 2005-03-29

Posts 148
Miami

15 posted 2005-04-07 03:52 AM

sure agree with all above who enjoyed this poem

Not A Poet puts them together so well- all of his I've read are well-tailored.

Yes.. as for the old philo. argument.. my qualifcations and readings?  ZERO

But I have some plain old sense. I don't know that I can argue agin' the ancient Chinese man, but, if his "statement" distills down correctly to the first line of your poem, then... I stand by my logic.  I just can't -not-

because no true statement was made, and you may, perhaps agree.

But let's not tarnish the poem by -that-.  The found-philosophy is fine for a poem and the poem is cooly crafted.

But not all philosophical statements hold water or air for me... who has little formal education but does question authority

A google search might bring up sources for the quote or "statement is false" thing.

best regards,
reid

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