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Philosophical Quandaries & Thought Experiments

Introduction

Welcome to the realm of mind-bending dilemmas, logic puzzles, and philosophical paradoxes.

In this section, we explore the questions that defy simple answers — the ones that have baffled thinkers for centuries and still challenge us today.

From the famous trolley problem to the terrifying implications of Roko’s basilisk, each thought experiment here is designed to provoke deeper thinking and illuminate hidden assumptions.

What You’ll Discover

  • Paradoxes that expose contradictions in logic and ethics
  • 🤖 Modern thought experiments involving AI, simulation, and identity
  • Classic dilemmas from ancient philosophy to contemporary metaphysics
  • Simple explanations for complex problems — great for learners

Introductory

Classic Quandaries

Modern Experiments

  • Derek Parfit – Identity and continuity
  • David Lewis – Modal realism and possible worlds
  • Nick Bostrom – Simulation theory and existential risk
  • Gilbert Harman – Moral dilemmas and intuition
  • Zeno of Elea – Early paradox logic

Quotes That Provoke

“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”
— Stephen Hawking

“All men by nature desire to know.”
— Aristotle

“The paradox is really the pathos of intellectual life, and just as only great souls experience great pathos, so also only great thinkers experience great paradoxes.”
— Søren Kierkegaard

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