Logic...

  A Harvard scholar, Mr. Sean Goldstein approaches a learned
> Rabbi telling him that he has a Doctorate in philosophy, and
> would now like to learn the Talmud to round off or complete
> his knowledge. After summing him up for a few minutes, the
> Rabbi told him " I seriously doubt that you are ready
> to study Talmud. Its the deepest book of our people. If you
> wish however I am willing to examine you in logic, and if
> you pass the test I will teach you Talmud. "
>
> The young man agrees. Rabbi holds up two fingers " Two
> men come down a chimney. One comes with a clean face and the
> other comes out with a dirty face. Which one washes his
> face?
>
> The young man stares at the Rabbi. " Is that a test in
> Logic?
>
> The Rabbi nods.
>
> " The one with the dirty face washes his face" He
> answers wearily.
>
> " Wrong. The one with the clean face washes his face.
> Examine the simple logic. The one with the dirty face looks
> at the one with theclean face and thinks his face is clean.
> The one with the clean face looks at the one with the dirty
> face and thinks his face is dirty. So the one with the clean
> face washes his face."
>
> "Very clever" Says Goldstein. . " Give me
> another test."
>
> The Rabbi again holds up two fingers " Two men come
> down a chimney. One comes out with a clean face and the
> other comes out with a dirty face. which one washes his
> face?
>
> " We have already established that. The one with the
> clean face washes his face"
>
> " Wrong. Each one washes his face. Examine the simple
> logic. The one with the dirty face looks at the one with the
> clean face and thinks his face is clean. The one with the
> clean face looks at the one with the dirty face and thinks
> his face is dirty. So the one with the clean face washes his
> face. When the one with the dirty face sees the one with the
> clean face washing his face, he also washes his face. So
> each one washes his face"
>
> " I didn't think of that! " Says Goldstein.
> " Its shocking to me that I could make an error in
> logic. Test me again!."
>
> The Rabbi holds up two fingers " Two men come down a
> chimney. One comes out with a clean face and the other comes
> out with a dirty face. Which one washes his face?
>
> " Each one washes his face"
>
> " Wrong. Neither one washes his face. Examine the simple logic.. The one with the dirty face looks at the one
> with the clean face andthinks his face is clean. The one with the clean face looks at the one with the dirty face and
> thinks his face is dirty. But when the one with clean face
> sees that the one with the dirty face doesn't wash his
> face, he also doesn't wash his face So neither one
> washes his face"
>
> Goldstein is desperate. " I am qualified to study Talmud. Please give me one more test"
>
> He groans when the Rabbi lifts his two fingers "Two
> men come down a chimney. One comes out with a clean face and
> the other comes out with
> a dirty face. Which one washes his face?
>
> " Neither one washes his face"
>
> " Wrong. Do you now see, Sean, why Socrates logic is
> an insufficient basis for studying the Talmud? Tell me, how
> is it possible for two men to come down the same chimney,
> and for one to come out with a clean face and the other with
> a dirty face? Dont you see? The whole question is narishkeit
> - foolishness - and if you spend your life trying to answers
> foolish questions, all your answers will be foolish."