Talk:Paradox

Method to the madness

I don't think Hamlet's methodical madness would be correctly described as a paradox, but I don't want to change it myself. 124.149.38.108 (talk) 14:36, 20 December 2010 (UTC)

Hello, why don't you elaborate your point a bit more? Catgut (talk) 00:10, 21 December 2010 (UTC)

Well in a previous scene Polonius suggested to the Queen that true madness can only be defined as nothing but being mad, so in this scene he mentions another element (method) which corrupts his definition. That's not really what I mean though, which is that the aside in which he says there is a method in the madness served to reinforce the charade to the audience. There is no paradox because he wasn't mad, and paradoxes rely on definitional rigidity. 124.149.119.211 (talk) 12:51, 5 January 2011 (UTC)

paradox ?????.......

if a man created a worm hole,by which he could go only 1hr back in time,goes through it and killed his own past,simply asking what would happen. ronitd 13:31, 3 June 2011 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ronitd (talk • contribs)

If a man could create a worm-hole and went back in time 1 hour, he would erase the last hour, and also erase when he went into the worm-hole, so in effect he never went back in time.Flight Risk (talk) 18:31, 11 December 2013 (UTC)

The Paradox of Abraham

Søren Kierkegaards "Fear and Trembling" brings the religious and ethical paradox of faith/belief through Abrahams willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac, whom he loves, to God. I would just recommend this book to anyone who finds an unresolved paradox interesting. What makes Abraham above the ethical, and so not a contemplating murderer? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.18.15.24 (talk) 13:13, 4 June 2011 (UTC)

Impossible Directive

How would one classify an impossible directive, like one that we see all the time ...

This is a test. Please ignore this message.

If I ignore this message, I am acknowledging it. If I respond to it, I am ignoring it. Thus, it's a directive that is impossible to follow. I'd guess that this is some sort of paradox. WHPratt (talk) 19:06, 7 July 2011 (UTC)

I wouldnt say that was a paradox, just a notice which it is impossible to obey. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.222.233.89 (talk) 09:22, 2 October 2011 (UTC)

If you respond to the message, you are not ignoring it, but what it says (the directive). Even ignoring it is a response. Kenneyw (talk) 11:06, 20 January 2012 (UTC)
Of course, the sender of the message wants the recipient to do nothing. Thus, the statement ought to read something like "This message is a test. Please do not take any action regarding it." However, the other form, a directive that directs that its directions be ignored is paradoxical. WHPratt (talk) 13:21, 17 May 2012 (UTC)

Just saw a sign today in my building: "THIS DOOR MUST REMAIN CLOSED AT ALL TIMES." As it's also labeled a Fire Exit, it obviously isn't secured. So, said door can be opened; it's just that, to comply with the directive, you mustn't do so. Not ever. However, it's a commonly used route to a main stairwell to the other floors, so what they really want to say is to "Keep this door closed except when you're using it." One might argue that a door that remains closed at all times isn't really a door at all, it's just part of the wall. WHPratt (talk) 14:12, 28 March 2013 (UTC)

Supposedly, one of the players' dressing rooms at Brooklyn's Ebbetts Field used to have a sign that read VISITORS' CLUBHOUSE -- NO VISITORS ALLOWED. WHPratt (talk) 18:01, 14 May 2017 (UTC) I've since been corrected: said sign was seen at The Polo Grounds in New York City. WHPratt (talk) 04:58, 4 November 2021 (UTC)

I remember an old university professor friend of mine. He was a big shot and has a reserved parking space. The sign there said "This parking space is RESERVED for Dr. ____ ____ ____. DO NOT PARK HERE!" [He had a title and three names on it, but of course.] As this guy was fanatic about the English language, I pointed out to him that the sign should have read something like "... ONLY HE MAY PARK HERE!" but he claimed it wasn't his problem. WHPratt (talk) 18:01, 14 May 2017 (UTC)

"VIGILANCE PARADOX"

Does anyone have any information on the history of the "Vigilance Paradox"? I heard about this paradox a few days back, and can't seem to track down what it is. It's very important that I find out.

Thanks. — Preceding unsigned comment added by KeeperC (talk • contribs) 12:24, 4 September 2011 (UTC)

This article appears to contradict itself

This article is riddled with instances of self-contradiction. I think we should revise it thoroughly. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.152.102.89 (talk) 08:48, 19 September 2011 (UTC)

Well, if you're going to contradict yourself, an article about paradoxes would seem to be the best place. ;) WHPratt (talk) 18:22, 16 November 2011 (UTC)

Sports Paradox

I'll leave it to some expert to classify, but a once-good pitcher having a very bad season once said "It takes a good pitcher to lose 20 games."

The point is not, of course, that losing games is a good thing, but that only a pitcher of proven ability will get the chance to get that many decisions. If the team didn't have confidence in him, they'd stop using him well before 20 losses. WHPratt (talk) 18:56, 29 November 2011 (UTC)

Another. Discussing the wisdom of Yogi Berra on the talk page for his article, I recalled this story: someoned is asking Yogi for an opinion about organized Little League baseball. He told about his youth in the summer time, how he and his friends would rise early and play softball all morning, eat a sandwich under a tree, then play hardball until it got dark, really dark. All day, every day. In Little League, he noted, you play two innings and they have to take you out and put in another kid. Why, he said, you can't even learn to strike out in that amount of time. This suggests that in attaining mastery of some subject, even the negative things, like striking out properly have to be learned. One can imagine there are lots of variants on this theme. I suspect that Yogi may be a source of more paradoxes as well. WHPratt (talk) 14:34, 31 January 2012 (UTC)

Definition

Perhaps the page might benefit from a clear definition: "a paradox is a seeming contradiction." Kenneyw (talk) 11:10, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

Yes, I agree. This page demonstrates a clear problem that I see on Wikipedia quite often. It is dominated by the overtly-rational, "left-brain"-oriented way of knowing that suggests that all things can be resolved through direct logic and clear description. It has a connection to analytic philosophy and some weird sort of Physicalism that seeks to deny that some things exist. If a paradox is a contradiction, it has a link to an aporia, in the sense that puzzlement and confusion may lead to ideas and perceptions that simply contradict and cannot be resolved. That's it. But, to accept this irreconcilability is not enough.

Accepting that some things cannot be resolved, requires what Keats suggested, that we must to be able to "stand comfortably in uncertainty, Mystery, doubt" within his definition of Negative capability. Here, and elsewhere on Wikipedia, there is tendency to deny that there any "uncertainty, Mystery, doubt" in the world, but only our failure to think rationally or clearly enough about it. I would argue that is a problem not with the world, or with rationality, but a problem with the human mind.

The human mind needs to know and does not like not knowing, thus we have a tendency to turn away from mystery and doubt and pretend it does not exist. Thus, the paradox is described as merely as a "confusion" or "tautology" and not contradiction that perhaps, cannot be reconciled. Edunoramus (talk) 15:36, 10 March 2012 (UTC)

Here's the former lede on the article, when it was a featured article on Wikipedia back in 2004: "A paradox is an apparently true statement that seems to lead to a logical self-contradiction, or to a situation that contradicts common intuition. The identification of a paradox based on seemingly simple and reasonable concepts has often led to significant advances in science, philosophy and mathematics. In moral philosophy, paradox plays a particularly central role in debates on ethics, particularly in the form of ethical dilemmas. Common themes in paradoxes include direct and indirect self-reference, infinity, circular definitions, and confusion of levels of reasoning." Edunoramus (talk) 15:56, 10 March 2012 (UTC)

Thus, it is important to note that a paradox in science and mathematics is very different than a paradox in philosophy and moral philosophy. This is the problem. Edunoramus (talk) 15:59, 10 March 2012 (UTC)

There are at least four definitions of paradox that are quite popular in philosophy. They come from William Lycan (from his 2010 "What, exactly, is a paradox?"), Roy Sorensen (from his 2003 "A Brief History of the Paradox"), John Corcoran (from his 1989 "Argumentations and Logic"), and W.V.O. Quine (from his 1966 "The Ways of Paradox"). Any one of them would benefit the article quite a bit. They all have the commonality of a paradox arising when there is a surprising juxtaposition of (seeming) truth-values of statements. Being this general, it is incorrect to say that paradoxes in science and mathematics need to be distinguished from paradoxes in philosophy (though, perhaps it is helpful to distinguish between deductive paradoxes and inductive ones). In fact, most of the paradoxes which have been very influential in philosophy come from physics (e.g. Zeno's paradoxes, grandfather paradox, EPR paradox) and foundations of mathematics (e.g. Russell's Paradox, Lowenheim-Skolem Paradox). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.110.63.45 (talk) 19:01, 5 April 2012 (UTC)

It would then seem prudent to split this page further to explain the idiosyncratic variance between what is expected and the end result, as this seems to be the core issue that has sprung up around paradox

"Patrick Hughes outlines three laws of the paradox:" it says. I'm a bit puzzled as to why "This statement is false" appears three separate times. I can't find the original, presumably three laws but it does seem plausible to simplify this portion of the text to remove the superfluous. Mizusajt (talk) 17:45, 22 June 2012 (UTC)

I think that Edunoramus brings up some good points, particularly the one about mystery. One problem I have with this article is that it seems addresses its topic almost exclusively in academic/logical terms, ignoring some of the more common (i.e. layman's) aspects of how paradox is understood. It could say more about how the topic is used in popular culture and literature, for instance. For the layman, one of helpful definition that Webster's provides is "a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true".[1] Webster's' also notes that paradox can be applied to situations as well as statements. Those things seem to tie-in with the popular conception I've always encountered (or would it be misconception?). But, I don't see that reflected much here.

So, for instance (in everyday terms), your friend might remark to you that it is a paradox how John's mother, 100 year old Mrs. Jones, is on one hand so lucky—she has been able to live the long life so many of us want to have, but is so unlucky to suffer from arthritis and dementia. Or you might be reading The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne thinking, "this book deals with various connected paradoxes, such as how God allows Hester's child, Pearl (the name symbolic a beauty treasure), to be born out of a sinful and adulterous act. Am I off-base here, or should the article reflect more popular conceptions in these veins (well-sourced of course), as well as more emphasis on the definition of how something seemingly contradictory can be perceived as true? Garagepunk66 (talk) 04:19, 20 July 2019 (UTC)

Too technical?

It can give you a head ache but with a little reading I think it makes sense.

Panpog1 (talk) 23:15, 16 May 2013 (UTC)

Example given of howlers (Paradox) - alternate solution

Slightly past half-way down the section, Logical paradox, is an example given in which a father and son are driving down the road. The surgeon does not have to be the boy's mother for the story to be non-contradictory. I suggest that the "father" mentioned at the beginning of the story might be referring to the boy's father, as in priest, in which case the boy can have two fathers without the story being contradictory.
Christopher, Salem, OR (talk) 08:37, 26 May 2013 (UTC)

Weed Paradox

Is there any classification known as a Weed Paradox (or some similar term)?

Many herbariums and botanical institutions maintain weed gardens, for the sake of completeness, and probably to support research on controlling these.

The defintion of "weed" usually centers about a plant that grows where is isn't wanted, where it shouldn't be growing.

So, a weed in a weed garden isn't a weed, as that's where weeds belong. Gather together enough weeds, and they cease being weeds. (Presumably, if a pretty flower pops up there, it gets removed.)

But you still want to call it a "weed collection" for obvious reasons. ;) WHPratt (talk) 15:10, 15 June 2013 (UTC)

Curry's paradox unresolved?

I wonder what makes Curry's paradox unresolved. It seems to me that it is as much resolved as the Liars Paradox and in a similar way. This is also expressed in the Article for Curry's paradox. Mordoron (talk) 13:53, 31 October 2013 (UTC)

"Curry's paradox can be formulated in any language supporting basic logic operations that also allows a self-recursive function to be constructed as an expression."

To solve it, you have to give up either at least one basic logic operation or recursive statements. Either way, you get a pain in the ass. Same goes for the liar. Paradoctor (talk) 00:00, 1 November 2013 (UTC)

Thank you. I agree with your statement. I take it you argue that in order to "resolve" the paradox we have to revert to using a natural language in which the paradox can not be formulated. This interpretation of the word "resolve" seems too strict to me. The use of the word "yet" is also misleading in my opinion. It infers that some future knowledge or understanding is lacking in order for us to resolve the paradox. Is that really possible in view of the above interpretation of "resolve"?

In any case, it seems misleading to argue that Curry's paradox (and by the same logic Liar's) is "unresolved", where in the appropriate articles there are 3 paragraphs dedicated to the resolution (Curry's), and at least 6 great philosophers giving their resolution (Liar's). At the very least, I would change the sentence "Others, such as Curry's paradox, are not yet resolved." to "Others, such as Curry's paradox and Liar's paradox are examples that some sentences in natural language can not be consistently assigned a truth value" Mordoron (talk) 13:09, 8 November 2013 (UTC)

The articles are misleading, I'm afraid. All these "resolutions" are contested in some way. Paradox, Curry's paradox, liar paradox and many others are quite a ways away from being comprehensive. Work in progess. ;) Paradoctor (talk) 14:31, 8 November 2013 (UTC)

This is wrong

“ 'Nothing is Impossible', meaning that it is impossible for something to be impossible, thus contradicting itself. ”

Nothing literally means "not a thing". So by definition, nothing is the absence of "something" (or more specifically all things that exist or are 'some thing'). So "nothing is impossible" is in fact not a self-contradicting statement, because it literally means "not a thing is impossible", which refers to physical existence. Any thing that exists is possible, by virtue of it's own existence. Nothing is the absence of existence and thus not "something". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.146.245.56 (talk) 03:59, 2 November 2013 (UTC)

Nothing doesn't mean "not a thing". It means "no thing". Britmax (talk) 05:07, 2 November 2013 (UTC)

Can you give me an example of nothing then? If nothing is "no thing" then what exactly is it? I don't see how the statement "No thing is impossible" could possibly imply that "something is impossible". "No thing" is the exact opposite of "some thing".

This might seem pedantic, but it is an important distinction. Just because we use this phrase rather freely in everyday life does not mean that we can just equivocate "nothing" with "something" and subsequently argue that it is a self-contradicting statement. It might be a vacous statement, but that doesn't make it self-contradicting. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.146.245.56 (talk) 05:36, 2 November 2013 (UTC)

I removed the sentence because it was not a good example of self-reference, as highlighted by your discussion. If you check out the article on nothing, you'll see that it is debated whether nothing refers to things at all. Paradoctor (talk) 09:42, 2 November 2013 (UTC)

Thank you.

In the article about the exception paradox it is argued that "If everything is possible, then it is possible for anything to be impossible.", but this argument seems to be making the same categorical error.

In one category we have the category of all things that are possible. In this specific case this would include all things, with no exception ("Everything is possible without exception"), the second category of things that are impossible would subsequently be empty. I don't see how you then get to "everything is impossible" which is the exact opposite of that statement. If everything was indeed possible, no thing would be impossible.

This argument, again seems to making the same fallacy of equivocation, where the words possible and impossible are equivocated to mean the same thing, even though they mean the exact opposite. If everything is possible, no thing is impossible. There is no paradox there. 90.146.245.56 (talk) 18:56, 2 November 2013 (UTC)

A paradox doesn't vanish just because there is a solution. It just ceases to be a problem. Anyway, I think our time is better spent looking up sources for that article, rather than discussing its subject. ;) Paradoctor (talk) 19:55, 2 November 2013 (UTC)

Russell's paradox, naive set theory and sources

Among the problems we have is that the assertion that "Russell's paradox [...] showed that naive set theory was flawed." is, well, flawed. Firstly, the source cited appears to be an undergraduate dissertion which we would not normally regard as a reliable source: see WP:SCHOLARSHIP. Secondly the source states clearly that Russell found an inconsistency in Frege's axiomatic set theory. A later remark is "the (naïve) set theory of Frege leads to a contradiction". So the source, if reliable, only supports the claim that one particular naive set theory is flawed. The distinction between an axiomatic theory and a naive theory is not resolved. However, I suggest that what Russell's paradox showed was that a development of set theory in which sets are identified with properties is flawed, since the property "is not a member of itself" cannot (consistently) be identified with a set. Deltahedron (talk) 11:24, 11 May 2014 (UTC)

Definitive improvement, you didn't have to justify it on my account. Paradoctor (talk) 12:01, 11 May 2014 (UTC)

There's a parallel discussion going on at Talk:Naive set theory. Deltahedron (talk) 12:11, 11 May 2014 (UTC)

Dialetheic paradoxes

I'm having trouble with these citations. I don't see how they support the claim that some religious teachings classify some paradoxes as dialetheias. I couldn't access the Graham book, but neither of the other sources mentions paradoxical statements as being considered both true and false at the same time. Please note that one of them must obtain independent of the other. Merely holding that a statement would be true iff it was false is simple logic, not a dialetheia. Paradoctor (talk) 15:12, 3 November 2014 (UTC)

It's not all religion. There are multiple Eastern traditions. The South Asian traditions can be religious, in the Western sense (in fact one could argue that Western religious traditions stem from India). However the East Asian traditions have secular empire mixed up with them. It is part of Chinese literature that Empire is to be ruled by ritual ("You won the world on horseback, but you will lose it on horseback"— said the scholar-bureaucrat to the founder of the Han dynasty, meaning that appeal to rite is necessary to rule an empire peacefully, and not all rites are religious, for example, a rite of passage.). Perhaps I might email you p.334 of Graham. Failing that, might I recommend Joseph Needham Science and Civilisation in China (I admit it's 27 volumes and counting). Briefly, Chinese civilization is old, wise, and vital (capable of resilient response to change). So the formulations of the Mohists, 2200 years ago, were subsumed into the literature of China, long ago. --Ancheta Wis   (talk | contribs) 17:43, 4 November 2014 (UTC)

There are other sources of paradox:

1. Ivan Niven (1959) Mathematics: a House built on Sand?,
2. Galileo (1638) Two new sciences, his discovery of a hierarchy of infinities
3. Mandate of heaven -- it's not 'divine right of kings', it's 'winner take all', after cutting the Gordian knot. After all, Aristotle was the teacher of the man who cut it. --17:43, 4 November 2014 (UTC)

"Appears to contradict itself": confusing and wrong definition

The article opens with the definitive claim that paradoxes appear to contradict themselves. That's inconsistent with some of the classic paradoxes in philosophy as well as examples the article proceeds to give. For instance, the Ship of Theseus story doesn't contradict itself at all--it just illustrates the paradoxical idea that two things can be identical while sharing none of the same parts. Similarly, Zeno's paradox that motion is impossible doesn't contradict itself. It just contradicts what seems to be the case, namely, that sometimes things move. The same goes with the Socratic paradoxes like everyone seeks the good and weakness of will is impossible.

The problematic definition seems to be uncritically lifted from general purpose dictionaries. That's probably not a good idea, given that the dominant use of paradox as a concept is technical, viz., in the sense used by philosophy and logic.76.98.100.238 (talk) 14:24, 27 January 2015 (UTC) (This post was edited to fix a mistake on 1/28. Same user, different IP:158.130.215.110 (talk) 17:56, 28 January 2015 (UTC))

pandion-enwiki 10/28/2015 14:43 EDT - here's a more complete definition: a statement or proposition that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Pandion~enwiki (talk • contribs) 18:43, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

Anything is Possible paradox

It can be explained simply as: "If anything is possible, then it could be false because it's possible." Any thoughts?--69.223.184.228 (talk) 03:32, 9 August 2015 (UTC)

I do not understand. if anything is possible, it should be true because being true is a form of being possible. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 120.138.12.75 (talk) 11:54, 23 May 2023 (UTC)

So is being false. Which would mean it is possible that "anything is possible" is both true and false at the same time. You might be interested in this Stack Exchange discussion.

But please refrain from further discussion here, per WP:TALK#TOPIC: Talk pages are for discussing the article, not for general conversation about the article's subject. Happy editing, Paradoctor (talk) 15:58, 23 May 2023 (UTC)

this is discussing the article. we are discussing whether we should add this paradox to this article. 103.114.211.135 (talk) 05:22, 30 May 2023 (UTC)

"Is the answer to this question 'No'?"

This question has multiple answers. The paradoxical responses are "yes", "no", and all affirmative responses. However, we are not required to use them; we can use unsure responses, such as "I don't know". We can also use terms synonymous with "no", such as "it isn't".— Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.187.218.145 (talk) 23:24, 30 October 2015 (UTC)

See also false alternative --Ancheta Wis   (talk | contribs) 23:47, 30 October 2015 (UTC)

Original Research

This article has a Template:original research wikibox. What original research is it alleged to contain? — Charles Stewart (talk) 08:41, 5 September 2016 (UTC)

The tag was added in November 2014, by user TheQ Editor (talk · contribs). Hereby pinged. - DVdm (talk) 08:47, 5 September 2016 (UTC)

Paradox - In logistics

Okay, some seem to have an issue with the following..

In logistics

In Systemic Thinking: Building Maps for Worlds of Systems, John Boardman and Brian Sauser discuss, "the process of understanding how systems influence one another within a world of systems and has been defined as an approach to problem solving by viewing 'problems' as parts of an overall system, rather than reacting to a specific part, outcome, or event." [17] A paradox in systemic thinking, is when the system itself is ignored and the outcome is the focus. The Sauser Paradox addresses this conundrum.

The Sauser Paradox – when someone’s hard work or good deeds are not recognized because of cultural, social, or political self-serving bias.[18] Also referred to as “Being Sausered.”

Discussion

The paradox has wide application in business, politics, and theory development in real-time. There has been a raging debate in America for some time over prisons, if they work so well then why do two-thirds (68 percent) get arrested again within three years.[19] Rather than celebrate that prisons and prison workers keep convicts in check, we focus on the convicts that come out and commit crimes again. Rather than spend money on improving convicts so they do not commit crimes again, we build more prisons. The focus is on outcomes, rather than systems.

Politics

America seemingly divided over the election of Donald Trump, Americans struggle to understand.[20][21][22] While many Democrats seem steadfast in their rebellion, Tomi Lahren channels the Republican dismay at such rebellion.[23][24] Donald Trump claims to want to put America First with a focus on keeping jobs in America[25] and increasing border security[26] The Sauser Paradox, predicts that regardless of how successful Donald Trump is as the 45th U.S. President, he will still be deplored by some in spite of his sacrifice and hard work.[27] "Donald Trump has been Sausered."

Political Paradox Discussion

A paradoxical reaction to a Donald Trump is the opposite of what one would expect, such as disagreeing with the process that led to this outcome.[28] Advocates exist in all levels of government and are a daily function of government: House of Representatives, Congressmen, Governors, City Council. The Sauser Paradox reflects a more complex system than simple liar paradox, or direct contradiction and recursive vicious circularity; this paradox reflects becoming agitated by your advocate or thinking advocating for ones charge somehow harms someone else, regardless of what they do, rather than how your advocate was selected. In being angry at the outcome of the election, rather than the process that lead to that outcome, protestors are arguing first against themselves, second against their advocate, and finally against an outcome that cannot be change by any level of protesting. The paradoxical context places no right or wrong on the discussion, it only identifies the focus should be the system to spark change[29], not the outcome.[30]

I am listening... User:Mbcopeland

Please sign all your talk page messages with four tildes (~~~~). Thanks.

Again you have reverted. Reported at Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Edit warring. - DVdm (talk) 19:21, 27 January 2017 (UTC)

A few examples:

• This does not look like a wp:reliable source.
• This source does not mention "paradox".
• The statement "Rather than celebrate that prisons and prison workers keep convicts in check, we focus on the convicts that come out and commit crimes again. Rather than spend money on improving convicts so they do not commit crimes again, we build more prisons. The focus is on outcomes, rather than systems." is unsourced. .
• Wikipedia:Why_was_the_page_I_created_deleted is a wp:CIRCULAR source, and it does not even mention "paradox".

- DVdm (talk) 19:38, 27 January 2017 (UTC)

Also, regarding the section title Editors without degrees, please note that Wikipedia is not a textbook (WP:NOTTEXTBOOK) and we don't need degrees to discuss, accept or dismiss contributions. - DVdm (talk) 19:54, 27 January 2017 (UTC)

You are trying to source discussions, that is not consistent with any existing Wiki page. Statements are the most basic and fundamental critical thinking and writing, and logical extension from the source material. Possibly you would prefer I simply state it here, and explain it on its own page? The discussion of the concept, exactly like the drugs above, is used to explain the concept, if I have to source a discussion, then why does Wikipedia exist? I am trying to improve Wiki, and unless you have read General Systems Theory (Boulding, 19567) and the Sauser book, I cannot help you understand. User:Mbcopeland (talk) 20:11, 27 January 2017 (UTC)

Please indent your talk page messages as outlined in wp:THREAD and wp:INDENT. Thanks.

I am not trying to source discussions. - DVdm (talk) 21:09, 27 January 2017 (UTC)

But the discussion was exactly what you complained about. - User:Mbcopeland

Possibly you could note a sentence by sentence issue, because at this point even I cannot tell what your issue is with what was there. - User:Mbcopeland — Preceding unsigned comment added by 47.185.67.134 (talk) 20:32, 28 January 2017 (UTC)

@User:Mbcopeland, please see the wp:synth policy. Please cite a secondary source for your contribution. Probably a tertiary source is not yet available for us to cite here, but if you have one, all the better. But if you have published work on the topic of paradox, it would not qualify as a citation, because self-cited work would be a conflict of interest. --Ancheta Wis   (talk | contribs) 22:35, 28 January 2017 (UTC)

@User:Mbcopeland I found a tertiary citation about systems, but it also suffers from the SYNTH defect. Although the writer discusses systems, his article does not mention 'paradox'. --Ancheta Wis   (talk | contribs) 12:51, 30 January 2017 (UTC)

References

Logical paradox section

This section is very poorly written. The example sentence "This statement is false" is used to illustrate self-reference, contradiction, and vicious circularity. The example "is the answer to this question 'no'?" was examined earlier on this talk page, it is not a paradox because the answers are not limited to yes or no ("I don't know" is a valid answer). The genie example is a poor one because refusing to grant that particular wish does not mean that wishes in general cannot come true. The surgeon's son is not a paradox, it is a riddle. It has a valid answer, but many people over look it due to preconceived notions.--Khajidha (talk) 12:19, 13 October 2017 (UTC)

Paradox simply means self-contradiction.

The article seems abit bloated. I would suggest that "Paradox means self-contradiction", made more clear in the article. In the light of greek culture, that is how it should be used. And it is not to be used as "transcendent" either, which is something else. Such as for instance "transcendent infiniteness", which is not a number, and not really a self-contradiction either. Indeed in this many go wrong, even people like Einstein, who though is populary believed to have opium in his pipe ;) One may indeed argue that there is no such thing as relativity quite well. Sky Charz (talk) 23:38, 17 October 2017 (UTC)

The dictionaries disagree. Paradox can also mean "a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory". About relativity one my argue anything, but not here: see wp:NOTFORUM. We have Speaker's corner for that. - DVdm (talk) 06:51, 18 October 2017 (UTC)

No, that is the same bloat. Sky Charz (talk) 11:03, 18 October 2017 (UTC)

Sorry, you need a citation to improve the article in an enduring way. You are welcome to suggest edits, but the changes would need a citation, such as "In the view of ___" (___ means a reliable source, and the quotation). --Ancheta Wis   (talk | contribs) 13:19, 18 October 2017 (UTC)

sound reasoning

sound

- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/of%20sound%20mind

- http://www.iep.utm.edu/val-snd/ 23h112e (talk) 20:58, 19 November 2017 (UTC)

reasoning - https://www.google.co.uk/search?rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-GB%3AIE-Address&rlz=1I7LENP&dcr=0&ei=QfARWr3iAcm-aJywqsgL&q=reasoning&oq=reasoning&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i67k1j0l9.3195.5244.0.5518.9.9.0.0.0.0.134.1075.0j9.9.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.9.1067...0i131k1.0.p6XjxBZK6bE

23h112e (talk) 20:58, 19 November 2017 (UTC)

The literature disagrees with you:

Google	Scholar	Books	Web
"Sound reasoning"	20,800	126,000	400.000

- DVdm (talk) 21:28, 19 November 2017 (UTC)

Monty Hall Problem

There are a lot of incomplete descriptions of the Monty Hall problem. Different descriptions yield different probabilities. For example, if the "common sense" is that Monty Hall will reveal the best remaining prize to keep you from picking it, then the odds favor not switching. If the "common sense" is that he will reveal the worst remaining prize, then the odds favor switching. If the "common sense" is that he will pick at random, then it depends what was revealed. 108.51.205.136 (talk) 23:22, 12 November 2019 (UTC)

Lead sentence

@Paradoctor: It's true that the source says a paradox "appears... contrary to expectations." Is it possible then that this is simply a bad (i.e. overly general) definition? I assume we'd agree that someone saying "That giraffe's face has been painted purple!" is a statement "contrary to expectations"... and yet not a paradox. Maybe we can find a better definition/source? Wolfdog (talk) 16:02, 28 August 2020 (UTC)

(no need to ping me here) "painted purple!" Expectations are subjective. What is surprising to you may be old hat to someone else. Yes, that means "paradox" is subjective.

"can find a better" I don't know if you can, but why not go ahead and try. Though, if you take issue with "contrary to expectations", you take issue with a core aspect of paradox, IMO. I recommend you look at a few dictionaries and philosophical texts discussing the concept. Mathematical sources tend to have a too narrow focus here, IMO. Happy hunting, Paradoctor (talk) 16:19, 28 August 2020 (UTC)

Yeah, I understand the subjectivity; almost everything is subjective, of course. In that vein, you'll recall that my edit deliberately avoided using any "expectations" talk at all. My painted-purple statement is not self-contradictory (therefore not a paradox), whereas, for example, "standing is more tiring than walking" at least arguably is. It seems to me that the core aspect isn't "contrary to (subjective) expectations" but rather "contrary to valid logical reasoning". Anyway, I'll do some digging at some point. Thanks! Wolfdog (talk) 16:51, 28 August 2020 (UTC)

If we look at Lexico (Oxford), we see that contradiction is, in fact, the core of each of the three definitions given. Nothing about expectations given. Wolfdog (talk) 22:03, 29 August 2020 (UTC)

Not all sources are complete (or competent). Surely that is not the only source you could find, apart from the ones already in the article? Paradoctor (talk) 22:58, 29 August 2020 (UTC)

Oxford University Press is about as authoritative as it gets, but whatever you say! That's literally all the sources I've looked at so far, and I was immediately validated. So, a pretty promising first look! Wolfdog (talk) 00:14, 30 August 2020 (UTC)

Post-revert: Once again, I disagree with your revert here. Even veridical paradoxes align nicely to the idea of "contradiction" or "self-contradiction". A veridical paradox is a "logically self-contradictory statement" (exactly as I defined) that is, nevertheless, true. So actually it perfectly fits within my reduced definition. Yet again, "one's expectations", though perhaps common, are neither necessary nor sufficient to the definition of paradox.Wolfdog (talk) 21:34, 9 October 2020 (UTC)

Added SEP citation. Paradoctor (talk) 21:46, 9 October 2020 (UTC)

Hegel and Marx

The article generally draws on formal logic as the basis for its conception of paradox/contradiction. There is no *dialectical* conception as we find in Hegel and Marx. For both Hegel and Marx, the world of Man, Nature and Mind is *inherently* self-contradictory. This is why, in their conception, it has movement, life, vitality, impulse. Many students of formal logic have not taken the trouble to grasp this in Hegel and Marx because they have never made a comprehensive, detailed and involved study of them. In Hegel and Marx, contradiction ('paradox') is seen as the 'engine of change' in all its forms. It is not simply 'static' or merely 'formal' https://archive.org/details/georg-wilhelm-hegel-the-science-of-logic/mode/2up?view=theater Advancingreturns (talk) 23:26, 1 December 2022 (UTC)

Origins and etymology

I think this article would benefit from a short section on the origins of the idea of a paradox, which as far as I know was with Zeno of Elea, and the etymology of the word, which I think helps people grasp the meaning. My limited understanding is that 'para' means something like 'contrary to' and 'dox' comes from 'doxa' which means 'common understanding/observation/opinion'. See here. LastDodo (talk) 10:07, 16 January 2023 (UTC)

Paradox is a seeming contradiction

A contradiction can be a seeming paradox.The latter might require a new term other than paradox.

Science must per definition be completely consistent in terms, definitions, and descriptions.

Paradox is incorrectly because not unambigiously defined in science when also meaning a contradiction. Gerhard Ris (talk) 12:51, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

We go by the sources, not what we think should be. And ambiguity does exist in science. Lastly, words can have several meanings, that's quite normal. HTH, Paradoctor (talk) 13:08, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

The Oxford Dictionary: A statement or proposition which on the face of it seems self-contradictory, absurd, or at variance with common sense, though, on investigation or when explained, it may prove to be well-founded (or, according to some, though it is essentially true).

"We go by the sources" is circular argument fallacy. "Science" defines the exact opposite.

Science, in the courts of law, and schools all elementary terms such as paradox must be completely consistent. Otherwise it's a pseudo scientific con job. Gerhard Ris (talk) 22:33, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

We do in fact go by the sources here, see WP:V, WP:NOR. If you have objections to that Wikipedia may not be for you. MrOllie (talk) 22:49, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

The Oxford Dictionary is a reliable source. The obvious fact that science uses paradox in both opposite ways must show explicitely in Wikipedia everytime the word paradox is defined. Otherwise under Dutch law it's a con job. Also tricking judges when scientists as legal experts state something is a paradox meaning a contradiction and the judges understand it as a seeming contradiction. Wikipedia must abide by the laws of decent countries. Gerhard Ris (talk) 06:37, 11 May 2023 (UTC)

How many definitions of "paradox" does the OED list? For comparison, Merriam-Webster currently lists five. Among them are

• "a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true"
• "a self-contradictory statement that at first seems true"

So M-W states that "paradox" can denote true statements as well as self-contradictory statements. A reliable source, no less.

I suggest if you want changes made to the article, you explicitly state what changes you want made, so we have something we can discuss without having to decide unsolved issues in the philosophy of science. Paradoctor (talk) 12:00, 11 May 2023 (UTC)

Well, just add your source to the article at the beginning of the article.

Otherwise Wikipedia infringes on an other sourse namely the law in most democratic states.

An enciclopedia should be trustworthy. Thus this should be corrected in all languages.

As a warning that science mostly uses paradox to mean a contradiction and and others mostly as a truth.

The article now does as if only the scientific one is correct.

You obviously care about the form. I don't. I simply point to a serious legal and moral shortcomming. To which you so aptly provide the source as proof thereof. Gerhard Ris (talk) 07:33, 12 May 2023 (UTC)

There is nothing legal or moral about the definitions that you can find here, among which the Oxford one. - DVdm (talk) 08:51, 12 May 2023 (UTC)

try any book of civil or penal law as a valid source. Performing con jobs is illegal in any legal system.

Wikipedia states in this article a paradox is always untrue. Yet Webster states also meaning untrue and Oxford Dictionaries as always true.

Doing this now knowingly makes Wikipedia liable to being succesfully sued when someone shows to have damages due to presenting willfull lies as not the whole truth. Ergo, fix it. Gerhard Ris (talk) 09:30, 12 May 2023 (UTC)

You are aware that we edit by WP:CONSENSUS? The discussion so far has made it clear that the consensus is that there is no issue here.

If you still feel this is worthy of your time, I suggest you contact WMF. Paradoctor (talk) 10:06, 30 May 2023 (UTC)

Barber Paradox and gender neutral language

I propose we use male language when describing the barber paradox. Per WP:GNL, gendered-language can be used in a single-gendered context:

Cases where all referents are of one gender (e.g. when talking about an all-female school it is unnecessary to alter "If any student broke that rule, she was severely punished" to "Any student who broke the rule was severely punished").

The barber paradox relies on the assumption that every person involved shaves their face. Of course, some men don't shave, and some women do, but MOST men shave and MOST women don't. I think gender neutral language introduces unnecessary confusion, whereas, if we limit the language to male language, the paradox is clearer. Please note that the barber paradox article uses male language. @Paradoctor: —Of the universe (say hello) 00:29, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Seeing no objection, I am implementing this change. —Of the universe (say hello) 13:59, 23 February 2024 (UTC)