Why doesn't acknowledging the barber's dual identity resolve the Barber Paradox?

Question

The Barber Paradox is given as: "In a village, there is a male barber who shaves only those who do not shave themselves. The question is: Does the barber shave himself?".

But, here is the problem: the barber himself is undeniably a man. Put simply, the same entity is referred to by two distinct identities: man and barber.

Can't we conclude, then, that the man, who happens also to be the barber, shaves himself? In other words, the barber does not shave himself, but the man, who happens to be a barber, shaves himself?

This interpretation resolves the paradox by recognising the dual identity of the man as both a barber and a man. What is wrong with this explanation?

Answer 1

Suppose we change the paradox to say that in the village there is a man who shaves all the men who do not shave themselves. How would you propose to apply your logic now?

Answer 2

You are right to think that applying different descriptions to the same person might resolve the paradox. But not in this case.

If we define that role (in this context) as a person who shaves those who need it, we don't necessarily get the paradox. Which is why the statement of the paradox includes "male". Then you get the paradox.

Your solution doesn't work because a man who shaves those who need it is by definition a barber. It is true that in another village with a female barber, the paradox won't work. But that doesn't affect the paradox.