ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ariadne's thread (logic)

Ariadne's thread is like a special rope that helps you find your way out of a tricky maze. You know how sometimes you get lost in a maze, and you don't know which way to go? Ariadne's thread is like a little helper that you can use to guide you.

Imagine you are in a big maze and you are trying to find your way out. You start walking and taking turns, but you are not sure if you are going the right way. Then you remember that you have a special rope called Ariadne's thread. You tie one end of this rope to the entrance of the maze, and you start walking while holding the other end of the rope.

Every time you take a turn, you check the rope to make sure it's still there. This helps you know which way you came from, and which way to go next. With Ariadne's thread, you can explore the maze without getting lost.

In logic, Ariadne's thread works in a similar way. It helps you follow an argument or a chain of reasoning without getting lost. When you are trying to solve a problem or understand a complicated topic, you might encounter different arguments and ideas. Sometimes these arguments can be confusing or contradict each other.

Ariadne's thread is a logical tool that helps you trace the order of ideas and make sure they lead to a clear conclusion. By using this tool, you can follow the steps of a logical argument and see if they make sense. You can also use it to check if an argument is valid or not. If the steps of the argument lead to a contradictory conclusion, then you know there is a problem somewhere.

So to put it simply, Ariadne's thread is like a rope that helps you explore a maze or a chain of reasoning without getting lost. It guides you step by step, so you can find your way out or solve a problem.