Cretan Liar Paradox

All Cretans are liars by adamgreenfield

Cretan Liar Paradox

A philosophical problem that takes more than one form. One form can be summed up as follows:

A certain Cretan once claimed that “all Cretans are liars.” Therefore this Cretan’s claim is itself a lie. If a lie, then it cannot be true. And if not true, then a Cretan might at least sometimes tell the truth. But if a Cretan sometimes tells the truth, then it cannot be true that “all Cretans are liars.”

One way out of this apparent paradox might be to realize that calling a group of people “liars” does not necessarily mean they always lie.

However, another form of the Cretan Liar Paradox cannot be so easily resolved. It was articulated by the Cretan, Epimenides, who said, “Cretans, always liars” (i.e. Cretans always lie).

Add to this, report errors, suggest edits or voice your opinion by posting a comment