Forked Path

[Sidoh]

You are traveling by sea in your own boat, when suddenly a storm strikes! A crate of something heavy falls on top of your head and you are knocked out for several hours.

When you awake, you find yourself on a uninhabited island. As you walk, you see a sign ahead of you. Under the sign is an old, frail man. You also notice that the road splits into two near identical paths.

When you draw closer to it, you see the text:

One path leads to great riches and fame, the other leads to a lifetime of perilous struggle. The man under this sign knows which path leads where. He will either always lie or always tell the truth. You will never know which. You may ask him one question and one question only.

What one question can you ask the old man so you have a sure answer of which path is the correct one?

Those of you that already know the answer because I've told you or you've heard it in the past... don't comment. :)

[Joe]

hm, loophole.. loophole.. i got nothin

[Sidoh]

This is another really good riddle.

The answer involves symbolic logic.

[rabbit]

The answer on your riddles module page defies the riddle itself (you can ask 1 and only 1 question), because it says to ask 2 questions.  gg~~

[iago]

The answer on your riddles module page defies the riddle itself (you can ask 1 and only 1 question), because it says to ask 2 questions.  gg~~

That argument was already made, and, as Sidoh explains, you're wrong. 

[rabbit]

Well someone moved the thread with that explanation, because I can't find it!  PLEASE TELL ME WHY!

[iago]

It's at the bottom of this forum.

By the way, I think this would be a hint: if you ask somebody "Are you telling the truth?" they'll always answer "yes". 

[Sidoh]

Jesus rabbit, learn to read. Not only did I already post this in the "Riddles" thread TWICE, but it clearly states in the answer:

If you posed the question in a similar manner:

Is this the correct path?

If it is NOT the correct path you indicate and he always lies, the man will respond with "Yes, it is." If he always tells the truth, he will respond with "No, it is not." but you can never be sure if he's lying or not.

It is showing why symbolic logic is required to answer it correctly.

[deadly7]

Would the question be:
"Will you show me the path that leads to riches?"

[Sidoh]

No. He ALWAYS lies or ALWAYS tells the truth (you can't tell which), regardless of the question posed.

[Sidoh]

bump

[Blaze]

Ask him which one he doesn't come from and go to that.  He must have come from the bad place...

If he lies he will bring you to the rich place, if he tells the truth, he will bring you to the rich place.

[Sidoh]

A lie and a truth end up with different paths given that question.

Wrong. :)

[Quik]

If you can only ask one question, why are you trying to find out if he's going to lie or tell the truth? If you ask your question and DO find out if he lies or not, you're still fucked because you can't ask the important question regaurding the paths.

[trust]

It'd be easier if there was one guy for both paths.

If you asked the question Blaze posted, it wouldn't matter. He obviously didn't go down either path since he's at the beginning! Unless he went down backwards.