Mark asked:

Many moons ago, I heard a story about a philosopher (Greek, I think) who was wrestling with the
question of when kernels of corn, dropped on a table, cease to be individual kernels and become a
pile. His answer was, 'turn around!'

I've been looking for the name of this philosopher (and a reference to the tale) for some time, but
haven't had any luck: does anyone who this philosopher was?

============

The story you are thinking of is known as the 'paradox of the heap'. I searched for this at
http://www.raging.comand came up with the Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy's reference to this
paradox. Look at http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/sorites-paradox/and I think you will find all the
information you want.

Katharine Hunt

Sorry, I don't. But the paradox you refer to (a heap of corn never stops being a heap as you keep
taking off single kernels, since taking one kernel off a heap always still leaves a heap) is known as
the Sorites Paradox. So looking this up in reference books may find you the answer.

Tim Sprod