Zeno’s tortoise paradox. The original idea was, you’re racing a tortoise. We’ll call him Marcus. Marcus has a ten yard head start. In the time it takes you to run ten yards, Marcus has moved maybe two yards. In the time it takes you to run two yards, Marcus has moved a little more. You run that smaller distance and he moves a little more. You could run forever, and never catch Marcus, you’d just decrease his lead. Of course you can just run past the tortoise in real life, but Zeno didn’t understand how that could happen. The truth is simple though- eventually the tortoise’s lead is smaller than one of your steps. That step will take you past him before he moves further. Then the tortoise is moving slower than you and is behind you, so you could win that race.
The principle of infinite regression. You can never cross the road. You must first cross half the road, then half of the half, then half of the quarter, then half of the eighth… Rejection of the idea is why the Greeks invented the atom. (You can’t keep dividing something in half forever. At some point there is the smallest indivisible particle, an atom – which is absolutely solid and can not be divided/split. The solid atom was an article of faith for centuries and may have held back modern physics. But, hey, most of the Theistic Proofs of Aquinas depend on the rejection of infinite regression.)
My physics professor (Dr. Yount) described it thusly… If Bob and Carol start out twenty feet apart, halving the distance between them every minute, then they will never actually meet. But they’ll be close enough for all practical purposes (eyebrow waggle).
Ida No over 1 year ago
Zeno never had children. So, how could he tell his grand-children these paradoxes?
mccollunsky over 1 year ago
Ah a classic, “I’m not touching you”
leopardglily over 1 year ago
Zeno’s tortoise paradox. The original idea was, you’re racing a tortoise. We’ll call him Marcus. Marcus has a ten yard head start. In the time it takes you to run ten yards, Marcus has moved maybe two yards. In the time it takes you to run two yards, Marcus has moved a little more. You run that smaller distance and he moves a little more. You could run forever, and never catch Marcus, you’d just decrease his lead. Of course you can just run past the tortoise in real life, but Zeno didn’t understand how that could happen. The truth is simple though- eventually the tortoise’s lead is smaller than one of your steps. That step will take you past him before he moves further. Then the tortoise is moving slower than you and is behind you, so you could win that race.
Templo S.U.D. over 1 year ago
Miles, you created not a best friend, but a monster.
LawrenceS over 1 year ago
The principle of infinite regression. You can never cross the road. You must first cross half the road, then half of the half, then half of the quarter, then half of the eighth… Rejection of the idea is why the Greeks invented the atom. (You can’t keep dividing something in half forever. At some point there is the smallest indivisible particle, an atom – which is absolutely solid and can not be divided/split. The solid atom was an article of faith for centuries and may have held back modern physics. But, hey, most of the Theistic Proofs of Aquinas depend on the rejection of infinite regression.)
twneuhaus over 1 year ago
Wow. Nice to see some so smart and well educated actually reads one of the better comics! Thanks for the education!
Pgalden1 Premium Member over 1 year ago
Kevin…always putting valuable new learning to practical use. Gotta love him
John Wiley Premium Member over 1 year ago
My physics professor (Dr. Yount) described it thusly… If Bob and Carol start out twenty feet apart, halving the distance between them every minute, then they will never actually meet. But they’ll be close enough for all practical purposes (eyebrow waggle).
Ellis97 over 1 year ago
Miles finally got his hair back! Hooray!
Scepnite over 1 year ago
Who doesn’t do that to their siblings?
Gear 5 over 1 year ago
Well, I cant say I’ve never done this
GKBOWOOD Premium Member over 1 year ago
Miles’ hair is really growing fast- yesterday it was still close to his scalp and I thought it would stay that way for while – guess not!
gmu328 over 1 year ago
Love how Miles has a philosophical musing and Kevin uses it for his own nefarious purpose
brooklyn51 over 1 year ago
This principle has been known and practiced by adolescent children since the beginning of time.
Original_Baskingshark over 1 year ago
Miles’s hair grew back.
FunnyPageLover over 1 year ago
His hair grew back really fast!
munkypunks over 1 year ago
I’m glad to see one of our favorite games, “I’m not touching you,” has stood the test of time.