The Paradox Factor

You turn back to the professor, who has wandered across the front of the lecture hall and has sat down on the edge of his desk.

"Suppose a few hours has gone by. Now I ask you, is the cat alive or dead?", the professor asks. "And this is where it gets difficult. With no way to look into the box and the box being entirely sealed in and of itself, the answer is: the cat is 100% dead and 100% alive. Only by opening the box and peering in will the cat's fate be sealed, one way or another. And if there is no way for the box to be opened, you have essentially sealed off a loop of time."

BBBBBZZZZZZ.... The bell rings and the class begins to get up to leave.

"Just in time, I want you to read pages 87 to 117 before the next lecture.", the professor yells over the bustle of the classroom.