two words...multiple personalities!

Why did the old man even bother asking the question in the first place? I believe that he was merely trying to get the traveller to think. In making the problem seemingly impossible to solve he ensured that it will remain ageless. If it remains ageless then that would sort of make all of us "travellers" on the journey of learning. You can doubt this theory but all who bother reading this opinion are merely proof that it is working. Here is my imagined sequel. "The traveller then continued down the road where he met the same old man by the side of the road. By this time however the traveller was finding it difficult to breathe. The old man told him, 'You will not be able prove by your death the last thing you hear before death to be true.' The traveller nodded and died." To prove it to be true would be to prove it to be untrue. Think about it, and then realize that you are thinking about it. My point is this, some things appear to be impossible to solve and that is how they are supposed to be. They are merely meant to make us think. Hey, I know that I thought about it.

The old man is a skitzophrenic charater the man creathed... or the ond man is the young man (so the young man is looking at himself, but at an older age.. or after death or whatever)

sounds to me like the old man was just fucking with the guy.

Maybe this paradox is nothing but an enigma, ment to gear your mind into deep thought. A training tool for the mind if you will. Its similar to the scientific question of "What happens when and unstopible force meets an immovable object." I dont think that this is ment to be solved, instead it is ment to be learned from.

you're looking too deep. the old man was saying what he said simply as a strange, confusing thing to say. he could have been high off of what he was smoking or just looking to have fun.

Well, this isn't that hard, it just goes in a circle. The old man tells the truth, but because of this lies, and because of this tells the truth, and it goes on and on in a circle. A paradox is simply a chain of thoughts linked in a circle that goes on into infinity. For this reason the only answer available is that in some cases lies and truths can cooperate in a situation. This brings about the idea that you can lie and tell the truth in the same idea. Now, I know that our minds have the ability to lie, but where did we pick up being able to both at once, hmmm? Maybe some brain surgeon should look to see what happens in this sort of situation.

The basic fact is that this statement is not true or false it is both. Simple fact. They are dependent on one another.

I never tell the truth. Answer that.

Truth is based on fact, not supposition. If I tell you that the first woman you see today will have a burgundy dress on, there is a remote chance that I might be right, but I can't call my statement a fact or a truth unless there is credible supporting evidence that this is actually going to happen. If the first woman you see is wearing a mauve pantsuit, then I'm a lunatic and if she's wearing a burgundy dress then I'm lucky. In the hypothetical situation as stated, it is uncertain whether the advisor to the old man knew if he was first in line. If he knew that he was going to be the first man in line, then he was simply uttering an absurdity. If he didn't know whether he was first or not, then he was uttering an absurdity. If he knew that he wasn't first in line, then he was uttering an absurdity. There really isn't a paradox involved with what he said because what he said had no possible basis rooted in fact.

The first statement 'The first thing said to you by the first person you meet today will not be true,' is both True and false, along with the comment 'Trust me - don't believe what he says!' 'OK,' another true and false comment. A conundrum, simply the man tells the truth but at the same time lying. A proverb maybe to prove there are some things our simple syntax cannot explain. Truth and lies are opposing sides, neutral argument would be to say nothing at all, however this guy says both in simultaneuosely. this makes me think of counting to infinity. . 1 2 3

Okay, at first i thought i had it, but then i'm like yah he's right. Then with the other stuff, i got more lost than ever. So i'm not really sure. I think he's saying is, be careful on what people tell you. For it may not be true. Be cautious and therefore, you'll be safe.

of coarse the man spoke truth and untruth. This is reality; truth is not solide. Truth is nothing but ones conclusion from facts. Many interprit facts diffrently that is what makes us all individuals. Some don't understand the facts as well as others and some don't have all of the facts. You see this is not a paradoxial puzzle, rather it is a puzzle of superior wisdom.

I agree that conflict is seemingly inherent to human nature. We seem to be unable to live without conflict of any sort. On the other hand why are we even going after peace when it is so idealistic- atleast it seems like that to a cynic like me and yet I am also an idealist who feels that it IS possible. If only. Again we see a common theme here- mental conflict.

The first thing the first person said was; " The first thing I say....." The thing that is first is first. It is the Old man himself who is the paradox. He must solve his own delimma and the traveler can go about his business, with the next old man he meets.

To me it seems that he contradicts himself, so therefore he "fixes" the truth to be a lie. Or vice versa. The lie and the truth are one in the same, it is both true and untrue. It's like when to minds meet, but they still think they should argue, and still believe they are of different opinions. It's pointless for them to carry on, but it's a puzzle for them so they enjoy the process. And I think i went a little to far, but o well

you will never know if it is both true and false, or just true, or just false. No absolute human answer can fill the gap in our minds what kind of statement it really was. I dont think it was a statement in the end though... i think it was a question, without a question mark. Or if it was just a statement, it had nothing to back it up but the future to back it up, so at the time it may have been a lie, but in the future it transformed into the truth. Kind of like a man saying that this egg boils, but that same statement will not be correct once the egg is gone. Do you understand what I am saying?

um what if it just doesn't make sense because the world isn't balanced?

or maybe our a) language, concept of time, c) concept of truth, is all flawed. And duh it's flawed, no wonder we don't know much or anything about the world.

It was neither true nor untrue as the statement in itself negated consequince.it was nill.It cancled itself out.......paradox solved

Wait, what I meant was that the travler could have met someone else and simply forgot about it.

Or, mabye he met himself first, and lied to himself when he got up that morning.

That's what I think anyway.

either way, it doesnt really matter if its true or untrue because its completely irrelevant to...well...EVERYTHING. I mean really though, other than the poor travelers confusion, what difference does it make? what could it possibly affect? what he said means nothing because hes talking about something he himself said about himself. so it doesnt matter either way!