This joke combines the concepts associated with Pavlov and Schrödinger, two famous scientists, creating a clever wordplay that also references their respective experiments.
Pavlov: Known for his classical conditioning experiment with dogs. He rang a bell before feeding dogs, conditioning them to salivate whenever they heard the bell.
Schrödinger: Famous for the thought experiment Schrödinger’s Cat, where a cat in a box is simultaneously alive and dead until observed. This illustrates a paradox in quantum mechanics about the nature of superposition.
The Joke:
When Pavlov and Schrödinger “bumped into each other,” two things happen at once, creating the humor:
Pavlov’s reaction: If something unexpected happens (like bumping into someone), the event might “trigger” a conditioned response — such as Pavlov salivating because he’s used to the bell.
Schrödinger’s paradox: The joke suggests that before observation, they are both aware and unaware of bumping into each other, akin to Schrödinger’s cat being alive and dead.
The Punchline: “It was quite the paradox!”
The joke itself is a paradox because it humorously combines Pavlov’s predictable conditioning with Schrödinger’s uncertainty, two contradictory ideas.
The wordplay is clever because “paradox” not only describes Schrödinger’s cat but also the confusing situation of this fictional encounter.
Uhh… this analysis makes no sense at all. And now OP has admitted that the joke doesn’t make sense and doesn’t work. Still, just for edification:
Pavlov’s reaction: If something unexpected happens (like bumping into someone), the event might “trigger” a conditioned response — such as Pavlov salivating because he’s used to the bell.
There was no conditioned response.
The wordplay is clever because “paradox” not only describes Schrödinger’s cat but also the confusing situation of this fictional encounter.
There’s something there, I think, but it doesn’t land as is.
I sat on it for a while and came up with this:
Pavlov and Schrodinger were flying together to a Thinker’s Convention. Their plane lost power and, in effort to make a safe landing, the pilot dumped their cargo.
They are doctors who have paradoxical theories (pair of docs) but after some research Pavlov’s theory of conditioning is not a paradox so the site I ripped this joke off of may have used the wrong doctor.
That’s my interpretation of what they were going for.
I’m asking what the joke is. That’s the focus here. Because it’s presented as a joke. Even though it appears not to be. If you get it, please explain it.
Don’t get it. Suspect it doesn’t actually make sense.
This joke combines the concepts associated with Pavlov and Schrödinger, two famous scientists, creating a clever wordplay that also references their respective experiments.
Pavlov: Known for his classical conditioning experiment with dogs. He rang a bell before feeding dogs, conditioning them to salivate whenever they heard the bell.
Schrödinger: Famous for the thought experiment Schrödinger’s Cat, where a cat in a box is simultaneously alive and dead until observed. This illustrates a paradox in quantum mechanics about the nature of superposition.
The Joke:
When Pavlov and Schrödinger “bumped into each other,” two things happen at once, creating the humor:
Pavlov’s reaction: If something unexpected happens (like bumping into someone), the event might “trigger” a conditioned response — such as Pavlov salivating because he’s used to the bell.
Schrödinger’s paradox: The joke suggests that before observation, they are both aware and unaware of bumping into each other, akin to Schrödinger’s cat being alive and dead.
The Punchline: “It was quite the paradox!”
The joke itself is a paradox because it humorously combines Pavlov’s predictable conditioning with Schrödinger’s uncertainty, two contradictory ideas.
The wordplay is clever because “paradox” not only describes Schrödinger’s cat but also the confusing situation of this fictional encounter.
This reads like a LLM explanation, was it?
Ofc i ain’t typing allat
yes
Uhh… this analysis makes no sense at all. And now OP has admitted that the joke doesn’t make sense and doesn’t work. Still, just for edification:
There was no conditioned response.
There was no confusion.
It was just chapgpt to help you friend :)
You didn’t help me, you wasted my time. Pro-tip: be quiet.
How will I ever carry on carrying this burden?
It both makes sense and doesn’t at the same time but eventually the punchline might ring a bell.
Pavlov’s dogs and Schrodinger’s cat?
There’s something there, I think, but it doesn’t land as is.
I sat on it for a while and came up with this:
nope, still doesn’t work
Some of the cats might be dead due to Shrodinger’s paradox.
Being mysterious doesn’t help me I’m afraid. Still don’t get it. The punchline doesn’t make sense and doesn’t ring a bell.
The fact that you haven’t just explained the joke makes me think you can’t because it doesn’t work as a joke. Right?
They are doctors who have paradoxical theories (pair of docs) but after some research Pavlov’s theory of conditioning is not a paradox so the site I ripped this joke off of may have used the wrong doctor.
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I get the idea, but I don’t think it works quite right.
What’s the idea?
Pavlov’s dog and Shrodinger’s cat.
Obviously. But what about them?
That’s my interpretation of what they were going for. If there’s any deeper meaning behind it, I don’t know it.
I’m asking what the joke is. That’s the focus here. Because it’s presented as a joke. Even though it appears not to be. If you get it, please explain it.
This is why I don’t think it’s presented well, because that’s the only thing I get from it as well.
Yeah i think it has something to do with a cat and dog