Discussion:
REQ: Smullyan Quote
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Danil
2005-11-14 06:51:18 UTC
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I've been trying to track down a source for a vaguely remembered quote,
and hoped someone here can help.

As I recall, the context was an introduction to a talk by Smullyan, the
final line was something along the lines of "and here is Raymond
Smullyan, who in the course of the next hour will demonstrate that you
don't exist, or that he doesn't exist, but you won't be able to determine
which."

Thanks in advance for assisting me in tracking this down.

Danil
Simon Tatham
2005-11-14 09:12:10 UTC
Permalink
Post by Danil
I've been trying to track down a source for a vaguely remembered quote,
and hoped someone here can help.
As I recall, the context was an introduction to a talk by Smullyan, the
final line was something along the lines of "and here is Raymond
Smullyan, who in the course of the next hour will demonstrate that you
don't exist, or that he doesn't exist, but you won't be able to determine
which."
I remember this quote too. I had a vague memory that he was
introduced as `Professor Smullyan' rather than `Raymond Smullyan',
and so I googled for "Professor Smullyan" "you don't exist". This
threw up exactly two hits. The first

http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9908d&L=conch-l&F=&S=&P=16042

cites it as appearing in Smullyan's own book `What is the Name of
This Book?', on p201 (in some edition or other :-). The first

http://www.laborlawtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14807

claims it was said by one `Melvin Fitting', who appears on further
googling to be an academic, so presumably he was introducing a talk
given by Smullyan at his university.

I'd imagine that looking up the quotation in WitNoTB? ought to give
you the rest of the details.
--
Simon Tatham "My heart bleeds.
<***@pobox.com> (That's how it works.)" -- Gareth Taylor
Danil
2005-11-14 11:38:19 UTC
Permalink
Simon Tatham says...
Post by Simon Tatham
I remember this quote too. I had a vague memory that he was
introduced as `Professor Smullyan' rather than `Raymond Smullyan',
and so I googled for "Professor Smullyan" "you don't exist". This
threw up exactly two hits. The first
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9908d&L=conch-l&F=&S=&P=16042
cites it as appearing in Smullyan's own book `What is the Name of
This Book?', on p201 (in some edition or other :-).
Bingo! Thanks

"I once gave a talk on my logic puzzles to an undergraduate mathematics
club. I was introduced by the logician Melvin Fitting (a former student
of mine, who knows me extremely well). His introduction really captures
the spirit of this book almost better than the book itself! He said, 'I
now introduce Professor Smullyan, who will prove to you that either he
doesn't exist or you don't exist, but you won't know which.'

_What is the Name of This Book_, Chapter 14 (How To Prove Anything),
puzzle #238. Sure enough, it appears on page 201 of the 1978 hardbound
edition. Also on the dust jacket.
henh...@gmail.com
2022-07-19 14:16:25 UTC
Permalink
Post by Danil
Simon Tatham says...
Post by Simon Tatham
I remember this quote too. I had a vague memory that he was
introduced as `Professor Smullyan' rather than `Raymond Smullyan',
and so I googled for "Professor Smullyan" "you don't exist". This
threw up exactly two hits. The first
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9908d&L=conch-l&F=&S=&P=16042
cites it as appearing in Smullyan's own book `What is the Name of
This Book?', on p201 (in some edition or other :-).
Bingo! Thanks
"I once gave a talk on my logic puzzles to an undergraduate mathematics
club. I was introduced by the logician Melvin Fitting (a former student
of mine, who knows me extremely well). His introduction really captures
the spirit of this book almost better than the book itself! He said, 'I
now introduce Professor Smullyan, who will prove to you that either he
doesn't exist or you don't exist, but you won't know which.'
_What is the Name of This Book_, Chapter 14 (How To Prove Anything),
puzzle #238. Sure enough, it appears on page 201 of the 1978 hardbound
edition. Also on the dust jacket.
I'd imagine that looking up the quotation in WitNoTB? ought to give you the rest of the details.
if i had to pick one Smullyan book (e.g. to take to a desert island), this one would be it.

the 2nd might be tTiS or FU:aPGtG

WitNoTB ---------- maybe [i] should be uppercase ?
HenHanna
2024-05-04 00:02:42 UTC
Permalink
Post by ***@gmail.com
Post by Danil
Simon Tatham says...
Post by Simon Tatham
I remember this quote too. I had a vague memory that he was
introduced as `Professor Smullyan' rather than `Raymond Smullyan',
and so I googled for "Professor Smullyan" "you don't exist". This
threw up exactly two hits. The first
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9908d&L=conch-l&F=&S=&P=16042
Post by ***@gmail.com
Post by Danil
Post by Simon Tatham
cites it as appearing in Smullyan's own book `What is the Name of
This Book?', on p201 (in some edition or other :-).
Bingo! Thanks
"I once gave a talk on my logic puzzles to an undergraduate mathematics
club. I was introduced by the logician Melvin Fitting (a former student
of mine, who knows me extremely well). His introduction really captures
the spirit of this book almost better than the book itself! He said, 'I
now introduce Professor Smullyan, who will prove to you that either he
doesn't exist or you don't exist, but you won't know which.'
_What is the Name of This Book_, Chapter 14 (How To Prove Anything),
puzzle #238. Sure enough, it appears on page 201 of the 1978 hardbound
edition. Also on the dust jacket.
I'd imagine that looking up the quotation in WitNoTB? ought to give you
the rest of the details.
Post by ***@gmail.com
if i had to pick one Smullyan book (e.g. to take to a desert island),
this one would be it.
Post by ***@gmail.com
the 2nd might be tTiS or
FU:aPGtG
Post by ***@gmail.com
WitNoTB ---------- maybe [i] should be uppercase ?
FU: aPGtoG <------- ?????????
HenHanna
2024-05-04 01:48:01 UTC
Permalink
Post by ***@gmail.com
Post by Danil
Simon Tatham says...
Post by Simon Tatham
I remember this quote too. I had a vague memory that he was
introduced as `Professor Smullyan' rather than `Raymond Smullyan',
and so I googled for "Professor Smullyan" "you don't exist". This
threw up exactly two hits. The first
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9908d&L=conch-l&F=&S=&P=16042
Post by ***@gmail.com
Post by Danil
Post by Simon Tatham
cites it as appearing in Smullyan's own book `What is the Name of
This Book?', on p201 (in some edition or other :-).
Bingo! Thanks
"I once gave a talk on my logic puzzles to an undergraduate mathematics
club. I was introduced by the logician Melvin Fitting (a former student
of mine, who knows me extremely well). His introduction really captures
the spirit of this book almost better than the book itself! He said, 'I
now introduce Professor Smullyan, who will prove to you that either he
doesn't exist or you don't exist, but you won't know which.'
_What is the Name of This Book_, Chapter 14 (How To Prove Anything),
puzzle #238. Sure enough, it appears on page 201 of the 1978 hardbound
edition. Also on the dust jacket.
I'd imagine that looking up the quotation in WitNoTB? ought to give you
the rest of the details.
Post by ***@gmail.com
if i had to pick one Smullyan book (e.g. to take to a desert island),
this one would be it.
Post by ***@gmail.com
the 2nd might be tTiS or
FU:aPGtG
Post by ***@gmail.com
WitNoTB ---------- maybe [i] should be uppercase ?
FU:aPGtG --------- i get it... [Forever Undecided ..............]
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