Paradox: meaning, definitions and examples

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paradox

 

[ หˆpรฆrษ™หŒdษ’ks ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

philosophy

A paradox is a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.

Synonyms

anomaly, contradiction, enigma

Examples of usage

  • The paradox of tolerance states that if a society is tolerant without limit, its ability to be tolerant is eventually seized or destroyed by the intolerant.
  • The grandfather paradox is a hypothetical paradox in time travel which a person could go back in time and kill their own grandfather before their mother or father was conceived, thus preventing their own existence.
  • Zeno's paradoxes of motion are a set of philosophical problems generally thought to have been devised by Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea to support Parmenides's doctrine that there is no motion.
Context #2 | Noun

logic

A statement that, despite apparently valid reasoning from true premises, leads to an apparently self-contradictory or logically unacceptable conclusion.

Synonyms

mystery, puzzle, riddle

Examples of usage

  • The liar paradox is a classic example of a self-referential paradox, arising from the statement 'This statement is false.'
  • Russell's paradox is a famous paradox within set theory that arises when considering a set of all sets that do not contain themselves.

Translations

Translations of the word "paradox" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น paradoxo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคตเคฟเคฐเฅ‹เคงเคพเคญเคพเคธ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Paradoxon

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ paradoks

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะฐั€ะฐะดะพะบั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ paradoks

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ้€†่ชฌ (ใŽใ‚ƒใใ›ใค)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท paradoxe

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ paradoja

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท paradoks

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์—ญ์„ค (้€†่ชช)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ูุงุฑู‚ุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ paradox

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ paradox

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ‚–่ฎบ (bรจi lรนn)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ paradoks

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ รพversรถgn

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฟะฐั€ะฐะดะพะบั

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒžแƒแƒ แƒแƒ“แƒแƒฅแƒกแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ paradoks

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ paradoja

Etymology

The word 'paradox' originated from the Greek word 'paradoxon,' meaning 'contrary to expectation, incredible.' The concept of paradoxes has been present in various fields such as philosophy, logic, and mathematics throughout history. Philosophers like Zeno of Elea and Heraclitus often used paradoxes to challenge conventional thinking and explore deeper truths. Paradoxes continue to fascinate thinkers and puzzle minds, leading to ongoing debates and discussions about the nature of truth and logic.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,905 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.