Q&A: A Loop That Repeats Under Every Condition
A Loop That Repeats Under Every Condition
Question
I heard from you in a recorded lecture that Rabbi Shimon's innovation—that any legal effect such that, if it takes effect, it will thereby be nullified, etc.—is built on a conception of logical causality as structured along the axis of time.
Based on that, I was troubled by a strange question: if a man betroths a woman on condition that the betrothal take effect, or he gives such a condition that we know with certainty that the betrothal has taken effect, then we again enter a loop. Because if so, the causality along the time axis is: fulfillment of the condition > taking effect of the betrothal, except that the taking effect of the betrothal depends on fulfillment of the condition, and so on in a circle.
Thanks in advance
Answer
There are more natural loops. This is just the liar paradox, or an artificial antinomy. And the paradoxical nature here is not connected at all to Rabbi Shimon Shkop's idea. His idea allows loops, but not logical ones like this.
Discussion on Answer
Definitely. It has no solution, just as the liar paradox has no solution. This is not connected in any way to Rabbi Shimon Shkop. He does not propose solutions to logical problems.
Do you agree that there is a loop here?
If so, does it have a solution?