What is a Paradox?

Paradox Meaning

A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory or absurd, but may nonetheless be true. For example, the statement "This sentence is false" is a paradox.

Paradoxes are often used to challenge our assumptions about the world and to make us think more deeply about the nature of reality. They can also be used to create a sense of humor or to make a point in a more subtle way.

Where does the word "Paradox" come from?

The word "paradox" comes from the Ancient Greek word παράδοξος (parádoxos), which means “unexpected" or "strange”.

Paradox Examples

Common Examples of Paradoxes

There are many paradoxes in our everyday vernacular that seem like regular statements until you think about them more closely. For example, the following are all strictly paradoxes, but so commonplace that they may not seem like self-contradictory statements:

• "Less is more"
• "The beginning of the end"
• "The sound of silence"

Famous Examples of Paradoxes

One of the most famous examples of a paradox is the Barber Paradox, which is an approachable, more conversational variation of Russell's Paradox in the Mathematical field of Set Theory. 

The Barber Paradox goes as follows: 

• Imagine a village, in which there is one barber
• This barber shaves exactly the people in the village that do not shave themselves (i.e. he shaves all the people in the village that do not shave themselves, and only those people)
• Who shaves the barber? Do they shave themselves?

This paradox has no solution, as any potential answer would result in a contradiction.

"The barber cannot shave himself, as he only shaves those who do not shave themselves. Thus, if he shaves himself he ceases to be the barber specified. Conversely, if the barber does not shave himself, then he fits into the group of people who would be shaved by the specified barber, and thus, as that barber, he must shave himself." - Barber Paradox, Wikipedia   

While this paradox may seem like a trivial or harmless question, its ramifications in the fields of set theory, logic and mathematics are still contentious topics today, over a hundred years later after Russell posited his paradox!

The Ship of Theseus is another famous paradox. It recently gained traction after it was referenced in Marvel's Wandavision, but it was originally posited by Plutarch, who lived AD 46 - 119.

The paradox goes as follows: 

• When Theseus returned from Knossos, after defeating the minotaur, he did so on his ship, henceforth referred to as "The Ship of Theseus"

• Long after his return, to preserve his ship, as the timbers and oars rotted and decayed, the Athenians who loved him replaced the rotting wood, one plank at a time, keeping the ship pristine

• Eventually, after enough maintenance, there came a point where not a single timber or oar remained from the original ship

• Is this still the Ship of Theseus? If not, where did it go? Are there now two Ships of Theseus (the standing ship, and the discarded planks)?

These questions have captivated philosophers from the days of Plutarch until today! 

• Further reading: The Ship of Theseus in Wandavision 

Some other famous examples of paradoxes include:

• The Liar Paradox: This paradox is a statement that says "This statement is false." If the statement is true, then it is false. But if the statement is false, then it must be true.
• The Grandfather Paradox: This paradox is a time travel paradox that says if you travel back in time and kill your grandfather before he met your grandmother, then you will never be born. But if you are never born, then you cannot travel back in time and kill your grandfather.
• The Achilles and the Tortoise Paradox: This paradox is a mathematical paradox that says if Achilles, the fastest runner in Greek mythology, starts a race with a tortoise, the tortoise will always win. This is because even though Achilles runs faster than the tortoise, he can never catch up to the tortoise because the tortoise is always ahead of him.
• The Unexpected Hanging Paradox: This paradox is a logic puzzle that says a prisoner is told that he will be hanged tomorrow morning, but he will not be told if he will be hanged at dawn or at noon. The prisoner knows that if he is hanged at dawn, he will have no chance of escape. But if he is hanged at noon, he can escape if he can stay awake all night. The prisoner decides to stay awake all night, but he is hanged at dawn.

Examples of Paradoxes in Literature

Paradoxes can be found in many works of literature, including:

• The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle: In the story "The Red-Headed League," Sherlock Holmes solves a mystery by using a paradox.
• The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka: In this novella, the protagonist wakes up one day to find that he has transformed into a giant insect. This transformation is a paradox because it is both absurd and true.
• The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: In this novel, the One Ring is a paradox because it is both powerful and dangerous. It is powerful because it can control other rings of power, but it is also dangerous because it can corrupt its bearer.
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams: This comic science fiction novel is full of paradoxes, such as the supercomputer Deep Thought calculating the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything to be 42.
• The Catch-22 by Joseph Heller: This novel is about a group of American soldiers during World War II who are trapped in a paradox called Catch-22. Catch-22 is a rule that says that a pilot can be grounded if he is deemed insane, but he can only be deemed insane if he requests to be grounded.

Examples of Paradoxes in Pop Culture

Paradoxes can also be found in popular culture, such as:

• The movie The Matrix explores the paradox of free will in a simulated reality.
• The TV show Lost is full of paradoxes, such as the island that is both real and not real.
• The video game Portal features a paradox called the "Resurrection Chamber." The Resurrection Chamber is a machine that can bring people back to life, but it can only be used if the person is already dead.
• The song "Paradox" by Muse explores the paradox of love and hate.
• The poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot explores the paradox of self-doubt and self-confidence.
• The iconic film Fight Club: "The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club"
• Pretty much any movie involving time travel! The list would be too long to try to cover here, but examples would include the Terminator franchise, and a key plot point (no spoilers) of the Back To The Future franchise!

Paradox Synonyms

There are no true synonyms for paradox, but some words that are similar in meaning include:

• Antinomy: A contradiction between two apparently equally valid propositions.
• Contradiction: A statement that denies something that has already been stated.
• Illusion: Something that is not what it appears to be.
• Puzzle: A problem that is difficult to solve.
• Absurdity: Something that is illogical or nonsensical.
• Catch-22: A situation in which a person cannot escape from a dilemma because of contradictory rules or requirements.
• Conundrum: A puzzle or riddle that is difficult to solve.
• Dilemma: A situation in which a person must choose between two equally undesirable options.
• Irony: A situation in which the outcome is the opposite of what was expected.