Simple Definition:
A paradox is a situation, statement, or concept that contradicts itself or seems to go against what is commonly believed. [Contradict: to say or do the opposite of something]
For example:
- “This sentence is false” is a paradox because if the sentence is true, then it must be false, but if it is false, then it must be true.
- Another example is the “grandfather paradox,” where someone goes back in time and prevents their own birth, which creates a contradiction because if they were never born, then how could they have gone back in time?
Very Simple Definition:
A paradox is something that contradicts itself or goes against common beliefs.
For instance, the statement “This sentence is false” is a paradox because if it is true, it must be false, and if it is false, it must be true.
Another example is the “grandfather paradox,” where someone going back in time to prevent their own birth creates a contradiction because if they were never born, how could they have gone back in time?