What is the word for the inverse of a paradox (its antonym)?

Question

A paradox is a statement that seems to be contradictory, but is, in fact, true. The inverse would be something that seems true, but is actually contradictory. I know a word exists to describe the inverse of a paradox, but I can't remember it...help!?

Answer 1

Possibly...if it exists...it is called...

Sophism.

eg.
All that's rare is expensive. A cheap horse is rare. A cheap horse is therefore expensive.

A sophism is an erroneous syllogism that rings true : "All that's rare is expensive. A cheap horse is rare. A cheap horse is therefore expensive".

Syllogisms can ring and be true : "All men are mortals. Socrates is a man. Therefore Socrates is a mortal".

sophism

Main Entry: soph·ism
Pronunciation: 'sä-"fi-z&m
Function: noun
1 : an argument apparently correct in form but actually invalid; especially : such an argument used to deceive

Answer 2

RE:
What is the word for the inverse of a paradox (its antonym)?
A paradox is a statement that seems to be contradictory, but is, in fact, true. The inverse would be something that seems true, but is actually contradictory. I know a word exists to describe the inverse of a paradox, but I can't remember it...help!?

Answer 3

I think Zholla is on to something with sophism.

I think also it is true that not all paradoxes represent irresolvable canundrums. A paradox is a statement that seems to contradict itself, but may indeed express a condition that is actually realizable. Some paradoxes, such as Xeno's paradox express a provably wrong notion.

But other paradoxes are inherent in reality: for example Einstein's idea of an infinite but bounded universe, as demonstrated by the surface of a sphere. Very often paradoxes exist because of the imperfection or inaccuracy of language. The Einstein paradox is one such:
the surface of a sphere is by no means an inifinite area, but we may move continuously along it without ever being confronted with a limitation.

Interesting head stretch question. My compliments.

Answer 4

Oxymoron is proximate, but no panatela
Are you certain that paradox does not fit both ways?
Zeno's (not the mathematician) paradox, for instance: that motion consists of moving through an infinite number of points in a finite amount of time;therefore, motion is impossible.

Answer 5

A paradox is a statement that seems impossible because it involves two opposing ideas that are both true. It's difficult for me to decide what the opposite of that would be.

Answer 6

Counter-intuitive

Answer 7

Fallacy perhaps. People say statements all the time that are fallacious, and people think they are correct, but in fact they are not.

Answer 8

Pizza anyone?

Answer 9

fact, truth