What is a paradox? True and False at the same time?

Question

My son and I are debating paradox. He says there is no such thing as a paradox and it is impossible. I disagree. Help me argue my point with him.

Answer 1

Here is a perfect and understandable example of a paradox:

When people say they are "fighting for peace".

The terms are oppositional concepts.

Answer 2

A paradox is a statement that seems to contradict itself, but doesn't necessarily do so. A good example would be if you were an intelligent human being and stated, "I know that I know nothing." This would seem to contradict itself, but makes logical sense at the same time. Thus, a paradox.

Answer 3

A paradox is two statements that both appear to be true, but also appear to contradict each other. Solving the paradox involves showing how they can both be true.

For instance: a child is driving in a car with his father. There is an accident, and the father is killed, the child injured. The surgeon in the waiting room looks at the kid and says, "I can't operate on him! He's my son!"

Answer 4

Paradox is a documented word. It refers to something that is contradictory to what is said.

Like if I said 'I was tired from sitting around all day'. I may be tired, yet Im resting on my bottom doing nothing. while other people might say they're 'tired from working all day'. The word 'all day' is a paradox too, as the day has 24 hours in it..so you didnt really work all day.

Answer 5

There is such thing as a paradox. Here is one:

This sentence is false.

Answer 6

He's wrong. a paradox is a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox

Answer 7

Here is a favorite paradox of mine: Anarchy means "there are no rules."

Answer 8

(logic) a statement that contradicts itself; "I always lie" is a paradox because if it is true it must be false.

Another paradoxal example is:
if you go back in time and kill your grandfather before your father is born.....you could not have gone back in time to kill him because your father is never born and therefore YOU were never born......so how could it happen.

Answer 9

When I say "I left my girlfriend, I noticed I was BLINDED BY MY EYES", I'm being paradoxical, but it's perfectly logical if you see it like this: I WAS SO STRICKEN BY HER BEAUTY, THAT I FAILD TO SEE HER SOUR TEMPER", I was blinded by my eyes.

Answer 10

you've already got solid proof, I'll just throw anotehr one into the mix.

Say there was a barber that shaved every man in his town that did not shave himself.

Who shaved the barber?