Paradox, apparently self-contradictory statement, the underlying meaning of which is revealed only by careful scrutiny. The purpose of a paradox is to arrest attention and provoke fresh thought . The statement “Less is more” is an example.
Why is paradox important in literature?
This self-referential statement is an example of a paradox—a contradiction that questions logic. In literature, paradoxes can elicit humor, illustrate themes, and provoke readers to think critically .
Why are paradoxes important?
Paradoxes represent instances where the present knowledge is lacking and expectations are inconsistent with actual events or findings . Paradoxes surprise us and should evoke a desire to gain deeper understanding.
What is paradox and why is it important in literature?
This literary device is commonly used to engage a reader to discover an underlying logic in a seemingly self-contradictory statement or phrase. As a result, paradox allows readers to understand concepts in a different and even non-traditional way .
What does paradox symbolize?
a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth . ... any person, thing, or situation exhibiting an apparently contradictory nature. an opinion or statement contrary to commonly accepted opinion.
What are some paradoxes in life?
- 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.
How do you explain a paradox?
A paradox is a statement, proposition, or situation that seems illogical, absurd or self-contradictory, but which, upon further scrutiny, may be logical or true — or at least contain an element of truth. Paradoxes often express ironies and incongruities and attempt to reconcile seemingly opposing ideas.
What is the meaning of paradox and examples?
A paradox is a statement that contradicts itself, or that must be both true and untrue at the same time . ... But a key part of paradoxes is that they at least sound reasonable. They're not obvious nonsense, and it's only upon consideration that we realize their self-defeating logic. For example: This statement is a lie.
What does paradox mean in simple terms?
paradox • PAIR-uh-dahks • noun. 1 a : a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true b : a self-contradictory statement that at first seems true 2 : one (as a person, situation, or action) having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases.
What is a famous paradox?
Russell's paradox is the most famous of the logical or set-theoretical paradoxes. Also known as the Russell-Zermelo paradox, the paradox arises within naïve set theory by considering the set of all sets that are not members of themselves.
What is the example of paradox?
An example of a paradox is “Waking is dreaming” . A paradox is a figure of speech in which a statement appears to contradict itself. This type of statement can be described as paradoxical. A compressed paradox comprised of just a few words is called an oxymoron.
What is the best paradox?
- THE BOY OR GIRL PARADOX. ...
- THE CARD PARADOX. ...
- THE CROCODILE PARADOX. ...
- THE DICHOTOMY PARADOX. ...
- THE FLETCHER'S PARADOX. ...
- GALILEO'S PARADOX OF THE INFINITE. ...
- THE POTATO PARADOX. ...
- THE RAVEN PARADOX.
Is paradox a figure of speech?
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself , but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. ... The word paradox comes from the Greek “paradoxos,” meaning contrary to expectation, or strange.
How do you use the word paradox?
- In a strange paradox, the medicine made Heather sick before it made her better.
- The idea of being cruel to be kind is a paradox because cruelty is not normally associated with kindness.
- By definition a paradox is two contrasting situations put together to create a provoking idea.
What are the three types of paradoxes?
Ramsey's classification. Frank Ramsey drew a distinction between logical paradoxes and semantic paradoxes , with Russell's paradox belonging to the former category, and Liar's paradox and Grelling's paradoxes to the latter. Ramsey introduced the by-now standard distinction between logical and semantical contradictions.
