This is a generalisation of "The three sages"

On a hot summer day, n equally bright philosophers, tired from all that philosophising, were napping in an orchard. A prankster came by, and painted all of their faces black with charcoal.

When the philosophers woke up, they started laughing at the others... until they suddenly realised all of their faces must be black!

How did they come to that conclusion?

The perpetrator would not have painted his own face with charcoal and everyone "else's" face was painted.
With this in mind and the knowledge that the philosopher making the observation didn't do it, he assumes that his face is also painted.

Posted by David Piccolo on 2004-05-06 05:39:13