The Bottle Imp - Bottle Imp Paradox

Bottle Imp Paradox

The premise of the story creates a logical paradox similar to the unexpected hanging paradox. Clearly no rational person would buy it for one cent as this would make it impossible for it to be sold at a loss. However, it follows that no rational person would buy it for two cents either if it is later to be sold on to a rational person for a loss. By induction, the bottle cannot be sold for any price in a perfectly rational world. And yet, the actions of the people in the story do not seem particularly unwise.

The story shows that the paradox can be resolved by the existence of one of three types of characters:

• Someone who loves the bottle's current owner enough to sacrifice their own soul for that person.
• Someone who believes themselves to be inevitably destined for Hell already.
• Someone who believes they will never die.