Paradox
/ˈpærəˌdɑːks/
nounC1
Definition
A paradox is when something says two things that seem opposite or cannot both be true at the same time. It can be a sentence, idea, or situation that looks strange or confusing because it goes against what we expect. Sometimes, paradoxes help us think more deeply or see things in a new way.
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See It in Action
A statement or idea that contradicts itself but may be true
- •The statement "I always lie" is a paradox because if it is true, then it must be false.
- •It is a paradox that the more you learn, the more you realize how little you know.
- •The paradox of choice says that having too many options can make people less happy.
A situation that seems impossible or strange because it contains two opposite facts
- •It is a paradox that the rich country has many poor people.
- •The paradox of time travel is that you could change the past but then not exist in the future.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "paradox" like "problem," but instead of just a difficulty, it is a problem that seems to break the normal rules or logic.
- ✓Picture a sign that says "This sentence is false." If it is true, then it must be false, and if it is false, then it must be true—this confusing loop is a paradox.
- ✓It's the feeling when you hear something that doesn't make sense at first but makes you think hard to understand it.
- ✓Sounds like "PAIR-uh-docks" → imagine two things (a pair) that seem to block each other like two doors stuck together.
- ✓Think of famous paradoxes like the "liar paradox" or "the grandfather paradox" in stories and science fiction, where time or truth gets confusing.
- ✓NOT like a simple mistake or wrong answer; a paradox is a special kind of puzzle that looks true and false at the same time.
- ✓NOT like a normal problem that has a clear solution; paradoxes often have no easy answer or show limits of our thinking.
Try Other Words
- •Contradiction: something that opposes or disagrees with something else (Use when focusing on direct opposite ideas)
- •Enigma: a mystery or something hard to understand (Use when the focus is on something being mysterious rather than logically impossible)
- •Riddle: a question or statement that needs clever thinking to solve (Use in playful or informal contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "para-" (beside, beyond) + "dox" (from Greek "doxa," meaning opinion or belief)
- •Etymology: From Greek, meaning "contrary to expectation or belief"
- •Historical development: Used in philosophy and logic to describe statements that oppose common sense or accepted ideas
- •Modern usage: Used in everyday language to describe confusing or surprising situations or ideas that challenge normal thinking
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a paradox in your own life or culture that made you think differently?
•How do paradoxes help us learn more about difficult or complex ideas?
Fill in the blanks
1.The paradox that "less is more" shows how ___ can sometimes lead to better results.
2.When someone says a paradox, it often makes you feel ___ because the idea seems to go against itself.
3.Unlike a simple mistake, a paradox is a ___ that challenges how we think.
4.The paradox in the story made readers ___ about what was really true.
5.People often use paradoxes to ___ difficult ideas in philosophy and science.
6.A paradox usually involves two ideas that ___ each other but both seem correct.
7.The paradox of time travel creates ___ about changing the past and its effects on the future.