4 ms·
If, like me, you didn't get the joke at first: Both of the first two logicians wanted a beer; otherwise they would know the answer was "no". The third logician
by mgsouth 3y ago
If, like me, you didn't get the joke at first:
Both of the first two logicians wanted a beer; otherwise they would know the answer was "no". The third logician recognizes this, and therefore knows the answer.
- KptMarchewa 3y agoUnless one of those wanted two beers. Or 0.5 beer. Or -1 beers. Or 1e9 beers. Or 2147483648 beers.
- prepend 3y agoHe didn’t know perfectly, but he knew with great enough probability to place an order. In the very small chance that someone wanted two beers, someone would speak up. This way is logically most efficient to work and involve the least communication.
- t0astbread 3y agoHopefully no one asks where the bathroom is.
- barfingclouds 3y agoYou’re referencing the wrong joke
- KptMarchewa 3y agoRight.
- bkirkby 3y agowhy is it three logicians? wouldn't it work with just two?
- adw 3y ago[Three is always funnier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_three_(writing) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_three_(writing)).
- douglaskayama 3y agoThree is a magic number. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rdhqAZSRDc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rdhqAZSRDc
- kkylin 3y agoI recently heard this explained () in the following way: three is the smallest number where you can set up an expectation (with the first two) and then break it. This is why three is such a common number, not just in jokes but in all sorts of story-telling. () In a lecture by the mathematician & author Sarah Hart.
- protomikron 3y agoThis guy footnotes.