If I were the ass, I'd head to the pile of hay which would take me in a
westerly direction. We were told that it was a warm and sunny morning.
Since the sun is in the eastern sky every morning ... well, who would want
to eat with the sun in their eyes?
Sorry, I don't have info about the origin of this paradox (or is it a
parable?), but I am curious to know what the correct answer is. -- Alva
____________________________________________________
In Message Fri, 18 Feb 1994 09:57:30 -0800,
John Davis <yyjdavis@sol.uvic.ca> writes:
>Melinda Elder <LAWZ@Jetson.UH.EDU> asks:
>
>>One of our professor has asked us to find the origin of the paradox
>>described below. We have exhausted all resources, both logical and
>>creative. Any help at all will be greatly appreciated.
>
>>_The Donkey's Choice_ ...
>
>This appears to be a version of "Buridan's Ass", named for
>the medieval philosopher Buridan. Tracking down the original,
>however, is not so easy. The Encyclopedia Britannica (11th),
>in the entry for "Buridan", says:
> ... The comparison of the will unable to act between two
> equally balanced motives to an ass dying of hunger between
> two equal and equidistant bundles of hay is not found in
> his [Buridan's] works, and may have been invented by his
> opponents to ridicule his determinism. ...
>
>Hope this helps.
>
____________________________________________________________________
Alva T. Stone
Law Library Internet: atstone@law.fsu.edu
Florida State University fax: 904-644-5216
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1043 tel: 904-644-2881
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