The Paradox of the Logical Detective
by Yildiz Culcu
The Scenario
In a prestigious logic institute, three renowned professors (A, B, and C) are found in the library. Each professor has written a statement about the others on a piece of paper. The institute’s detective needs to determine who is telling the truth and who is lying.
Professor A wrote: “Either B is lying or C is telling the truth.”
Professor B wrote: “If A is telling the truth, then C is lying.”
Professor C wrote: “I am lying.”
The Challenge
Your task is to:
- Determine which professors are telling the truth and which are lying
- Prove your answer is the only possible solution
- Explain what makes Professor C’s statement particularly interesting
Important Notes:
- Each professor is either consistently telling the truth or lying
- The statements should be evaluated simultaneously
- Consider the logical implications of self-reference