Here is a thought experiment illustrating a paradox involving the first and third person point of views.
Romeo and Juliet, being very unhappy with their families, the Montague and the Capulet, decide to engage in QS. (By QS, I do not mean Quantum Sex, even though such an activity has intriguing possibilities indeed. This topic is beyond the subject addressed here so I will postpone it for a later posting) After discussing the idea of QS with their dear friend Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet decide to go ahead with the project. Mercutio design the machine and under his instruction, Balthasar, Romeo's loyal servant, builds a QS contraption capable of operating on two persons simultaneously. The QS machine is specifically designed not to operate if the feud between the Montague and Capulet families comes to an end. Otherwise the machine terminates itself with both persons inside it in a microsecond. Anyone within a radius of 20 feet of the machine is also terminated. A few days later, after a series of successful tests demonstrating the non-operation of the machine, (otherwise the tests would destroy the machine) the device is ready to operate. Tearfully, Romeo and Juliet say their goodbyes to their dear friends. They kiss passionately, and slowly step into the machine. Balthasar moves away in a hurry afraid for his life. Romeo is sitting in front of the command panel. One last time, he looks at Juliet who gives him a nod. Romeo pushes the ignition button.... ... and nothing happens, Romeo and Juliet step out of the machine, and full of joy, run to their families to announce thier engagement and prepare their wedding... ...and a huge exposion shakes the ground... Balthasar is at a safe distance and is not hurt. However, Mercutio, who could not bear to lose his friends, had decided at the last minute to share their fate. He had moved within one foot of the machine when Romeo hit the iginition switch. Now here are a few questions involving first and third person points of views : Q1. What is the first person point of view of Juliet by Balthasar? A1. He saw the machine explode. No more Juliet. Q2. What is the first person point of view of Juliet by Romeo? A2. He sees his dear Juliet alive and well. Q3. What is the first person point of view of Juliet by Mercutio? A3. He sees Juliet alive and well. Q4. What is the first person experience of Juliet by Juliet? A4 She is happy to be alive and in love with Romeo. Now here is the trick question Q5. What is the third person point of view of Juliet? A5. Balthasar sees Juliet dead, but both Romeo and Mercutio see her alive and well. There lies the paradox. The question should be rephrased as: 1) What is the third person point of view of Juliet by Romeo, 2) What is the third person point of view of Juliet by Mercutio, and 3)What is the third person point of view of Juliet by Balthasar. This rephrasing however defeats the whole point of having a "third" objective person. There is no such a thing as a third person. The concept of third person should be rephrased in terms of persons sharing the same experience because they share the same frame of reference. In this thought experiment, both Romeo and Mercutio share the same frame of reference and therefore perceive Juliet in the same way. George
