038: Cats and Toast

Exploring the buttered cat paradox.

Jeremy Finch

14 Sep 2020 — 2 min read

These two statements are (usually) true:

When a cat falls, it lands on its feet
When a piece of toast is dropped, it lands butter-side-down

Some have wondered: What would happen if you tied a piece of buttered toast to a cat and dropped it from height?

This is known as the buttered cat paradox.

The premise is obviously ridiculous^*. But it contains some useful lessons.

* Please don't attempt this experiment

First, cats are amazingly agile 🐈
Their reflexes defy the laws of physics.

Second, multiple conflicting truths can coexist. Our brains are not wired to manage cognitive dissonance. Still, it can be useful to imagine opposing ideas simultaneously.

Sometimes things work out and we land (safely) on our feet. Other times, things go astray and our breakfast is ruined.

My natural disposition probably lies somewhere in the middle.

What paradoxes do you ponder?

Send me your ideas!
I may illustrate them
🎨

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