Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Philosophia Mathematica

Publication Date

2-1-2013

Volume

21

Issue

1

First Page

110

Last Page

114

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Abstract

This paper shows that Bertrand's proposed ‘solutions’ to his own question, which generates his chord paradox, are inapplicable. It uses a simple analogy with cake cutting. The problem is that none of Bertrand's solutions considers all possible cuts. This is no solace for the defenders of the principle of indifference, however, because it emerges that the paradox is harder to solve than previously anticipated.

DOI

10.1093/philmat/nks028

Print ISSN

00318019

E-ISSN

17446406

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2013 Oxford University Press

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Pre-print

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Rowbottom, D. P. (2013). Bertrand's paradox revisited: Why Bertrand's 'solutions' are all inapplicable. Philosophia Mathematica, 21(1), 110-114. doi: 10.1093/philmat/nks028

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