Fun Plato and Socrates #2

michaellevenson

Member: Rank 8
Plato has taught Socrates to become a top lawyer and has generously waived his fee, for now. Socrates will pay the tuition fee when he wins his first case. Months pass and Socrates has not been engaged in any cases. Plato anxious for his fee, sues Socrates arguing that if the court decides for him Socrates must pay up, and if it decides for Socrates then that's a case won by Socrates so he"ll still have to pay.
Socrates argues that if the court decides against him in favour of Plato then he hasn't yet won a case and needn't pay, and if it decides for him Plato's case is thrown out and he still won't have to pay. Who is right? What should the court do?
( from A to Z of paradoxes by Michael Clark)
 

michaellevenson

Member: Rank 8
The answer;
The court should not find for Plato, simply because at the time of the lawsuit Socrates hasn't won a case. However this changes afterwards as Socrates has now won, and Plato could instigate a second lawsuit that he will surely win
 
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