Paradox

"Save money by spending money." Wait. What does that mean? How can that possibly be true? That advice seems contradictory but may make sense. This sentence is an example of a paradox—a statement or argument that seems to contradict itself but can in fact be true. There are logical paradoxes and literary paradoxes. In literature, paradoxes are a powerful In this article, we give you a solid paradox definition alongside plenty of examples so you can fully understand this rhetorical device. Contents: • • • • • What Is an Easy Definition of a Paradox? If you’re already feeling like you’ve just stumbled into a philosophy class, have no fear. The easiest way to understand paradox is through examples, which we’ll cover in great detail in subsequent sections. But if you need an easy paradox definition, here’s what you need to know. A paradox is a statement or idea that contradicts itself. With that simple definition in mind, you’ll be able to grasp the concept of paradox in no time. What Is a Paradox? A paradox has different definitions depending on where it’s being used—that’s where it starts getting complicated. These definitions can be tricky, but we’ll try to simplify things for you. In short, a paradox is a self-contradictory statement or argument. Sometimes, a paradox seems to contradict itself but it can in fact be true. A paradox defies logic and runs counter to one’s expectations. A paradox presents conflicting ideas and relates them in a way that forces you to wonder if ...

When parents become deafening silence of their home. The emptiness can be bittersweet as mom and dad find themselves alone together. In the above sentences, these parents are dealing with quite a few oxymorons or paradoxes? Or, is an oxymoron a synonym for a paradox? Let’s take a look. What is a paradox? Paradox is a noun with several nuanced definitions that address the way we use contradictions to make a point when we speak. Paradox is also a As a rhetorical device, paradox is “a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.” Rhetorical devices—which include our old friends metaphor and hyperbole—are used to make a point when you’re speaking. For example: she is worried because the more she sleeps, the more tired she feels in the morning instead of waking up well rested. Or, while wedding dress shopping, the mother of the bride kept reminding her daughter that less is more and encouraged her to pick a sleek gown that was actually more impactful. The idea that less is more seems contradictory, but the statement contains a truth. Paradox also has a more common, everyday use. A paradox can mean that something or someone is self-contradictory. For example: skeptics believe that the idea of a truthful politician, who works only with the best interest of his or his constituents at heart, is a paradox and aren’t confident any are capable of uninfluenced honesty. Or: many reality TV shows are a paradox because they cl...

Also called par·a·dox il·lu·sion [ par- uh-doks i-loo-zh uhn] /ˈpær əˌdɒks ɪˌlu ʒən/ . an optical illusion depicting an impossible object, often a two-dimensional figure that the viewer intuitively interprets as representing a three-dimensional one, but which cannot actually exist in three dimensions: brought to popular attention especially by the work of • A statement that seems contradictory or absurd but is actually valid or true. According to one proverbial paradox, we must sometimes be cruel in order to be kind. Another form of paradox is a statement that truly is contradictory and yet follows logically from other statements that do not seem open to objection. If someone says, “I am lying,” for example, and we assume that his statement is true, it must be false. The paradox is that the statement “I am lying” is false if it is true.

Mathematical sophism is a fallacy in which the error has been knowingly committed, for whatever purpose. If the error introduced into a calculation or a proof leads innocently to a correct result, the result is a “howler,” often said to depend on “making the right mistake.” Many paradoxes arise from the has a continually greater sum the more terms are included, but the sum always remains less than 2, although it approaches nearer and nearer to 2 as more terms are included. On the other hand, the series is called divergent: it has no limit, the sum becoming larger than any chosen value if sufficient terms are taken. Another paradox is the fact that there are just as many even natural numbers as there are even and odd numbers altogether, thus contradicting the notion that “the whole is greater than any of its parts.” This seeming contradiction arises from the properties of collections containing an See an explanation on Zeno's Achilles paradox, an infinite series concept used in finance to pay off mortgages The so-called c. 450 bce) are, strictly speaking, sophisms. In the race between Dichotomy, “motion is impossible”; the Arrow, “motionless even while in flight”; and the Stadium, or “a given time interval is equivalent to an interval twice as long.” Beneath the Common algebraic fallacies usually involve a violation of one or another of the following assumptions: Three examples of such violations follow: Thus a is both greater than b and less than b. An example of an illega...

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Ready to flex your mental muscles? Some of these statements may make you pause and think. Here are some thought-provoking paradox examples: • Save money by spending it. • If I know one thing, it's that I know nothing. • This is the beginning of the end. • Deep down, you're really shallow. • I'm a compulsive liar. • "Men work together whether they work together or apart." - Robert Frost • "What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young." - George Bernard Shaw • "I can resist anything but temptation." - Oscar Wilde A paradox can be thought-provoking but they're also fun to consider. Here are some paradoxes with a witty bent: • Here are the rules: Ignore all rules. • The second sentence is false. The first sentence is true. • I only message those who do not message. In Animal Farm, "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others" is one of the cardinal rules. Clearly this statement does not make logical sense. However, the point of a paradox is to point out a truth, even if the statements contradict each other. Orwell is making a political statement here, but what? Perhaps it's that the government claims everyone is equal when, clearly, that's false. Or, perhaps it's that individuals have skewed perceptions of what it means to be equal. The interpretation is up to the reader to decide. Poet On the surface, this seems like a grim line. Quite the contrary, though. What Donne is really saying is that, upon death, heaven is imminent. And, in heaven, death shall di...