What Is a Paradox?
"Save money by spending money."
Wait. What does that mean? How can that possibly be true? That advice seems contradictory but may make sense. This sentence is an example of a paradox—a statement or argument that seems to contradict itself but can in fact be true.
With that simple definition in mind, you’ll be able to grasp the concept of paradox in no time. A paradox has different definitions depending on where it’s being used—that’s where it starts getting complicated. These definitions can be tricky, but I’ll try to simplify things for you.
In short, a paradox is a self-contradictory statement or argument.
Sometimes, a paradox seems to contradict itself but it can in fact be true A paradox defies logic and runs counter to one’s expectations. A paradox presents conflicting ideas and relates them in a way that forces you to wonder if it’s true or not.
Logical Paradox
A statement that is so self-contradictory that it cannot be true or false. In other words, if the statement is true, it’s false, but if it’s false, it’s true. Is that making your head spin? Good! That’s the purpose of logical paradoxes. They force us to expand our critical thinking and reasoning skills.
Have you heard the age-old question: "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" This statement is an example of a logical paradox. It is logically unsolvable, theories of evolution aside.
More Logical paradoxes
"All I know is that I know nothing."
"Is the answer to this question 'no'?"
"Everything I say is a lie."
Literary Paradox
Paradoxes are often used in literature as a poignant device. A literary paradox is a statement that appears to contradict itself, but upon further rumination, either reveals a deeper meaning or actually makes sense.
Literary paradoxes are often used to illustrate something profound. Authors choose to juxtapose two contradictory ideas in a way that is insightful. A literary paradox is often related to the overall theme or message of a story and is used to emphasize the story’s deeper meaning. Paradoxes are tricky to get right. But when an author successfully uses a literary paradox, they are exceptionally poignant.
A paradox is not the only literary device that relies on two conflicting ideas. Paradox is often confused with the rhetorical devices oxymoron, antithesis, and irony. These literary terms, however, have very distinct meanings and uses.
What Are Some Examples of Paradox in Literature?
While paradoxes are tricky to use, lots of authors have given it a try. Both logical paradoxes and literary paradoxes appear often in literature. Let's look at some classic examples.
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
This quote is a tenet created by the pigs in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. This statement is a paradox because something cannot be more equal than another. That goes against the very definition of equal. Even if something could be considered "more equal," the two parts of the sentence contradict each other, creating another layer of the paradox.
The premise of the book itself is paradoxical. The animals want equal rights to the humans, but in their quest for equality, the animals end up in a totalitarian regime that relies on class differences. The apparent paradox of the story is summed up by the quote. "I must be cruel only to be kind."