The New York TimesThe New York Times

The litany of #MeToo news continues. Is anything really changing?

By Amanda Taub

21 Sep 2023 · 5 min read

informed Summary

  1. In the NYT, Amanda Taub The discusses the ongoing issue of sexual harassment and assault, particularly in institutional settings, drawing parallels to Zeno’s dichotomy paradox, which suggests that one can continually make progress towards a goal but never fully reach it.

The endless, relentless eruptions of sexual abuse and harassment scandals can sometimes seem like a particularly grim form of Zeno’s dichotomy paradox.

Back in the fifth century B.C., the Greek philosopher described how a runner on the path to a particular destination must first traverse half the distance, and then half the remaining difference, and then half the remaining distance, and so on — to infinity. By that logic, the runner can take steps toward a goal but will never actually reach it.

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