What is the dilemma in the Achilles and the tortoise story?

Zeno’s argument rests on the presumption that Achilles must first reach the point where the tortoise started, by which time the tortoise will have moved ahead, even if but a small distance, to another point; by the time Achilles traverses the distance to this latter point, the tortoise will have moved ahead to another.

How do you solve the Achilles paradox?

According to Zeno’s argument, Achilles can never overtake a tortoise in a footrace if he gives him a head start. In order to pass the tortoise, Achilles must first reach the initial position of the tortoise. But during this time, the tortoise moves ahead. Achilles must then reach the new position.

What is Zeno’s paradox simplified?

In its simplest form, Zeno’s Paradox says that two objects can never touch. The idea is that if one object (say a ball) is stationary and the other is set in motion approaching it that the moving ball must pass the halfway point before reaching the stationary ball.

What is the point of Zeno’s paradox?

Thus Plato has Zeno say the purpose of the paradoxes “is to show that their hypothesis that existences are many, if properly followed up, leads to still more absurd results than the hypothesis that they are one.” Plato has Socrates claim that Zeno and Parmenides were essentially arguing exactly the same point.

Why was the tortoise named Achilles?

According to Greek mythology, when Achilles was born, his mother held him up by his heel and dipped him in the river Styx so that he could live forever. After surviving many battles, Achilles finally died after an arrow struck him on his heel. In this story, the author has named his pet tortoise as Achilles.

Who is the slowest Achilles or tortoise?

Achilles’ speed is 100 metres per minute and the tortoise’s speed is 1 metre per minute (the actual numbers don’t matter). Achilles is 100 times faster than the tortoise, so let’s give the poor animal a very large head start: 100m.

How does Achilles and the tortoise work?

Before he can overtake the tortoise, he must first catch up with it. The upshot is that Achilles can never overtake the tortoise. No matter how quickly Achilles closes each gap, the slow-but-steady tortoise will always open new, smaller ones and remain just ahead of the Greek hero.

How many steps did it take the tortoise to get to Achilles?

Achilles then completes his 22nd step, and he is two Achilles-steps ahead of the tortoise starting point. The tortoise will have completed her 22nd tortoise-step from her starting point. Hence the tortoise is now behind Achilles by 18 tortoise-steps.

What is your insight idea about Zeno’s argument against motion?

b. Zeno’s paradoxes of motion are attacks on the commonly held belief that motion is real, but because motion is a kind of plurality, namely a process along a plurality of places in a plurality of times, they are also attacks on this kind of plurality.

What is the standard solution to Zeno’s paradoxes?

Or, more precisely, the answer is “infinity.” If Achilles had to cover these sorts of distances over the course of the race—in other words, if the tortoise were making progressively larger gaps rather than smaller ones—Achilles would never catch the tortoise.

What did Zeno’s paradoxes attempt to prove?

There were apparently 40 ‘paradoxes of plurality’, attempting to show that ontological pluralism—a belief in the existence of many things rather than only one—leads to absurd conclusions; of these paradoxes only two definitely survive, though a third argument can probably be attributed to Zeno. …

Why do you think he lumbered along on tiptoe Achilles?

2. Achilles turned out to be an intelligent beast, with a sense of humour. He learned his name soon and the narrator’s family members had to call out once or twice and he would appear, lumbering along on tiptoe. Achilles loved the grapes as much as Roger did, soon there was always a great rivalry.

How many paradoxes does Aristotle have against motion?

Aristotle speaks of a further four arguments against motion (and by extension change generally), all of which he gives and attempts to refute. In addition Aristotle attributes two other paradoxes to Zeno. Sadly again, almost none of these paradoxes are quoted in Zeno’s original words by their various commentators, but in paraphrase.

How did Zeno defend Parmenides’ paradoxes?

1. Background 2. The Paradoxes of Plurality 3. The Paradoxes of Motion 4. Two More Paradoxes 5. Zeno’s Influence on Philosophy 1. Background Before we look at the paradoxes themselves it will be useful to sketch some of their historical and logical significance. First, Zeno sought to defend Parmenides by attacking his critics.

What are the advantages of being able to put things in layman’s terms?

Being able to put things in layman’s terms is a useful skill to practice. This advantage is particularly true not just for conversation but for education as well. Use it as a teaching tool to familiarize beginners with the workings of a particular area of study or industry.

What is a layman’s terms definition?

The layman’s terms definition or meaning is describing something complicated in simple language that anyone can understand. But what exactly is a layman, and why is this term synonymous with simplification?