logical paradox
Reason contradicting itself
A logical paradox is a statement or situation that seems to contradict itself yet may contain truth, or that follows valid reasoning to an impossible conclusion.
The classic example is "This statement is false"—if true, it must be false; if false, it must be true.
Paradoxes expose tensions in logic, language, or assumptions, and have driven advances in philosophy and mathematics by revealing hidden problems in seemingly sound systems.
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- true and falseQuiz type, binary options
- self-referencePointing to oneself
- vicious circleSelf-reinforcing negative loop
- unstoppable forceInevitable overwhelming power
ship of Theseus · infinite regress · chicken or egg · circularity · Catch-22 · brain teaser · self-refutation · Escher · falsifiability · ouroboros · epistemology · ambiguity · vagueness · impossible · barber · Zeno · equivocation · liar
logical paradoxtautology
Redundant or circular statement
logical consistency · valid argument · self-evident truth · sound argument · axiom