The two blacksmiths (Posted on 2003-03-17)

	Submitted by Gareth
Rating: 3.0667 (15 votes)
Solution:	(Hide)
In traditional logic this is an impossible scenario. A universe containing a sword that cuts through "anything" cannot also contain a shield that "nothing" can cut through. These two items are mutually exclusive. Alan proposes an interesting alternate solution: the sword would be able to cut through the shield, but take an infinitely long time to do so (for example penetrating 50% in the first second, 25% more in the next, etc.)

	Subject	Author	Date
	Puzzle Answer	K Sengupta	2023-11-22 08:17:16
	an explanation	joshua	2006-08-24 11:06:47
	Not a Paradox!	Kevin	2006-07-15 22:09:55
	No Subject	Rachael	2006-05-18 09:37:08
	solution (maybe)	Hal	2006-04-22 15:17:57
	mutual agreement	david	2006-03-09 00:50:15
	No Subject	aaron	2006-02-14 22:40:58
	No Subject	Adam	2005-12-22 00:11:46
	re: ummm... solution	Paddy	2005-12-21 07:37:24
	What about this?	Paddy	2005-12-21 07:36:08
	ummm... solution	susan	2005-10-15 07:53:02
	solution?	hookedonphonics	2005-10-09 20:27:48
	consider the following	Jen	2005-07-11 19:00:19
	What rule?	Amber	2005-05-17 03:28:54
	re: Zero Effect flaw	Gareth	2005-05-09 10:42:33
	An Alternate Scenario	1StokeD1	2005-04-03 15:18:02
	There are a few things on my mind...	Stephen Ticsay	2005-03-14 23:16:32
	Zero Effect flaw	josh	2005-03-14 02:57:39
	Haha I got it!!	seikan	2005-02-19 10:57:28
	No Subject	mike wazio	2004-10-26 02:59:20
	Wording	Adam	2004-07-30 14:28:58
	Semantics.	Erik O.	2004-06-14 13:09:27
	interesting	logischer Verstand	2004-04-16 23:18:22
	depends	logischer Verstand	2004-04-16 23:17:19
	Zero effect reply	Gareth	2004-03-17 12:08:03
	guess	Peter Lunts	2004-02-10 08:45:12
	Zero effect	Jack Squat	2003-12-09 15:38:54
	Both can coexist	Jack McBarn	2003-12-08 10:53:07
	hmm	Fraze	2003-11-28 15:44:41
	re: (about name changes)	SilverKnight	2003-11-26 23:00:40
	(about name changes)	Gamer	2003-11-26 20:52:45
	re: 1=1 and 2=2	SilverKnight	2003-11-26 14:42:09
	1=1 and 2=2	Sam	2003-11-26 14:31:15
	Gareth and Vlad Unrelated to topic	Dennis	2003-11-16 20:53:04
	No Subject	vlad	2003-10-09 10:40:09
	re: Ideal answer	Your buddy	2003-08-20 15:55:47
	spliting the sheild	snapp	2003-08-20 14:15:12
	re: somewhat of an answer	Gareth	2003-07-26 04:10:44
	somewhat of an answer	Sam	2003-06-23 15:00:18
	skill?	calla tah-n	2003-05-23 11:04:00
	No Subject	pleasance	2003-05-14 03:09:49
	Chaz, and What Could Happen	Berry	2003-05-10 02:36:08
	Solution	Chaz	2003-05-03 08:28:58
	quite simple really	Jon	2003-04-14 08:16:41
	request for clarification	Brian Allen	2003-04-01 09:19:53
	just a thought	Linda	2003-03-31 15:08:59
	re: An infinite Struggle	luvya2003	2003-03-27 13:56:26
	Summary,Paradoxical	Tim Axoy	2003-03-24 07:23:36
	Part 3,Moe against Joe	Tim Axoy	2003-03-23 09:58:21
	Part 2,Joe against Moe	Tim Axoy	2003-03-23 09:57:23
	Part 1,Joe's sword and Moe's shield	Tim Axoy	2003-03-23 09:54:38
	re: An infinite Struggle	Alan	2003-03-22 05:30:03
	An infinite Struggle	Brian Nowell	2003-03-21 19:05:58
	re: Paradoxical	DJ	2003-03-20 09:01:28
	re: The Sword	anton	2003-03-20 08:41:51
	Paradoxical	Tim Axoy	2003-03-20 06:08:00
	re: Ideal answer	slim shady	2003-03-19 16:17:44
	re: Ideal answer	Crystal	2003-03-19 07:32:51
	solution suggestion	Geoff	2003-03-17 16:08:07
	guess	silvis	2003-03-17 15:19:11
	The Sword	Eric	2003-03-17 14:50:30
	Ideal answer	Alan	2003-03-17 10:50:17
	My solution	Bryan	2003-03-17 10:17:13
	re: Puff of logic	Gamer	2003-03-17 08:59:05
	Puff of logic	Ender	2003-03-17 07:35:14