The surprise examination
نویسنده
چکیده
We examine a version of the surprise examination paradox using dynamic epistemic logic. We claim that the difficulties in the puzzle arise from the assumption that announcements are in general successful: the hearer will come to believe that they are true. This principle fails in certain specific cases, and we show that the announcement in the surprise exam paradox is an example. In dynamic epistemic logic, announcements that are not successful can be informative anyway. This analysis explains how sentences that are true but cannot consistently be believed, can be informative anyway, resolving many of the puzzling aspects of the puzzle.
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