Which Alice?
Which Alice? Which Alice?
ALICE IN PUZZLE-LAND means that the Dormouse stole the eggs. This means also that the March Hare stole the milk. So the March Hare stole the milk; the Hatter stole the butter (and told the truth); and the Dormouse stole the eggs (and lied). THE FINAL TALE If the White Rabbit had known a little more logic, he could never have said that Bill was right and the Knave was wrong, because it is logically impossible that Bill could be right and the Knave could be wrong! In other words, I am saying that if Bill is right, then the Knave has to be right. Let me prove this. Suppose Bill the Lizard is right. Then what he said is true, which means that either the March Hare or the Dormouse is right (or possibly both). Suppose the March Hare is right. Then the Cook must be right (because the March Hare said that the Cook and the Cheshire Cat are both right). On the other hand, if the Dormouse is right, then again the Cook is right (because the Dormouse said so). So in either case (whether the March Hare or the Dormouse is right) the Cook must be right. But either the March Hare or the Dormouse is right. Therefore the Cook must be right in either case. This proves that the Cook is right (assuming, of course, that the Lizard was right, which we are doing). Also, the March Hare said that the Cheshire Cat (as well as the Cook) is right, and the Dormouse said that the Caterpillar (as well as the Cook) is right. Therefore either the Cheshire Cat or the Caterpillar is right (because either the March Hare or the Dormouse is right: if the former, the Cheshire Cat is right; if the latter, the Caterpillar is right). Well, the Hatter said that either the Cheshire Cat or the Caterpillar is right, so the Hatter is right. This means that the Cook and Hatter are both right—which is exactly what the Knave of Hearts said! So the Knave of Hearts is right (all providing, of course, that Bill is right). So we have proved that if Bill the Lizard is right, then the Knave of Hearts must be right. Therefore the White Rabbit was quite wrong when he said that Bill was right and the Knave was wrong. So the Rabbit was wrong. 144
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ALICE IN PUZZLE-LAND<br />
means that the Dormouse stole the eggs. This means also that the<br />
March Hare stole the milk.<br />
So the March Hare stole the milk; the Hatter stole the butter (and<br />
told the truth); and the Dormouse stole the eggs (and lied).<br />
THE FINAL TALE If the White Rabbit had known a little<br />
more logic, he could never have said that Bill was right and the<br />
Knave was wrong, because it is logically impossible that Bill could be<br />
right and the Knave could be wrong! In other words, I am saying<br />
that if Bill is right, then the Knave has to be right. Let me prove this.<br />
Suppose Bill the Lizard is right. Then what he said is true, which<br />
means that either the March Hare or the Dormouse is right (or<br />
possibly both). Suppose the March Hare is right. Then the Cook<br />
must be right (because the March Hare said that the Cook and the<br />
Cheshire Cat are both right). On the other hand, if the Dormouse is<br />
right, then again the Cook is right (because the Dormouse said so).<br />
So in either case (whether the March Hare or the Dormouse is<br />
right) the Cook must be right. But either the March Hare or the<br />
Dormouse is right. Therefore the Cook must be right in either case.<br />
This proves that the Cook is right (assuming, of course, that the<br />
Lizard was right, which we are doing). Also, the March Hare said<br />
that the Cheshire Cat (as well as the Cook) is right, and the<br />
Dormouse said that the Caterpillar (as well as the Cook) is right.<br />
Therefore either the Cheshire Cat or the Caterpillar is right<br />
(because either the March Hare or the Dormouse is right: if the<br />
former, the Cheshire Cat is right; if the latter, the Caterpillar is<br />
right). Well, the Hatter said that either the Cheshire Cat or the<br />
Caterpillar is right, so the Hatter is right. This means that the Cook<br />
and Hatter are both right—which is exactly what the Knave of<br />
Hearts said! So the Knave of Hearts is right (all providing, of<br />
course, that Bill is right).<br />
So we have proved that if Bill the Lizard is right, then the Knave<br />
of Hearts must be right. Therefore the White Rabbit was quite<br />
wrong when he said that Bill was right and the Knave was wrong. So<br />
the Rabbit was wrong.<br />
144