paradoxes

Meanings

• noun

  A paradox is a statement or concept that contradicts itself or seems impossible, yet may be true.

  - "The paradox of free will: we have the freedom to make our own choices, yet those choices are determined by our past."
  - "The liar paradox: This statement is true if and only if it is false."

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Synonyms

shocker , contradiction , juxtaposition , reverse psychology , enigma , koan , puzzle , quandary , riddle

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with paradoxes
apotheses , hypotheses , theses

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Variants

List of all variants of paradoxes that leads to same result
paradox , paradoxes

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Greek word paradoxos, meaning 'contradictory, absurd'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The famous 'Barber Paradox' states that in a village, there is a barber who shaves all and only those men who do not shave themselves. Who shaves the barber?

2. The 'Russell's Paradox' is a famous paradox in set theory, which states that a set cannot contain all sets that do not contain themselves.

3. The 'Schrödinger's Cat' thought experiment is not actually a paradox, but rather an illustration of the strange behavior of quantum mechanics.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. oxymoron: An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms, such as 'jumbo shrimp' or 'deafening silence'. Paradoxes are similar in that they also present contradictory ideas, but they are usually more complex and can be open to multiple interpretations.

2. dilemma: A dilemma is a situation in which a difficult choice must be made between two unfavorable options. Paradoxes, on the other hand, present seemingly impossible or contradictory situations that may not have a clear solution.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. She was certainly far from understanding him completely; his meaning was not at all times obvious. It was hard to see what he meant for instance by speaking of his provincial side—which was exactly the side she would have taken him most to lack. Was it a harmless "paradox", intended to puzzle her? or was it the last refinement of high culture?

   - Henry James,{it}The Portrait of a Lady{/it},1881

2. Mr. Guppy propounds for Mr. Smallweed's consideration the "paradox" that the more you drink the thirstier you are and reclines his head upon the window-sill in a state of hopeless languor.

   - Charles Dickens,{it}Bleak House{/it},1852-53

3. For the actors, the goal was a "paradox": real emotion, produced on cue.

   - Claudia Roth Pierpont,{it}New Yorker{/it},27 Oct. 2008

4. Again and again, he returns in his writing to the "paradox" of a woman who is superior to the men around her by virtue of social class though considered inferior to them on account of her gender.

   - Terry Eagleton,{it}Harper's{/it},November 2007

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Paradoxes have been a subject of fascination in philosophy, mathematics, and literature for centuries. They challenge our understanding of reality and have been used to explore complex ideas and concepts. Some famous paradoxes include the Zen koan 'What is the sound of one hand clapping?' and the philosophical paradoxes of Zeno.

How to Memorize "paradoxes"

1. visualize
   

   - To visualize a paradox, try to imagine a situation that defies logic or common sense. For example, visualize a tree growing in a pot of water, with its roots extending down into the water and its branches reaching up towards the sky. This paradoxical situation can help you understand the concept of a paradox.

2. associate
   

   - To memorize paradoxes, try associating them with familiar concepts or ideas. For example, you might associate the paradox of free will with the idea of a pendulum swinging back and forth, representing the balance between choice and determinism.

3. mnemonics
   

   - To create a mnemonic for a paradox, try using a memorable phrase or acronym. For example, you might use the phrase 'A paradox is a lie that tells the truth' to help remember the definition of a paradox.

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Memorize "paradoxes" using Dictozo

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