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Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

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The opposite of a paradox
Guest
1
2008/01/06 - 2:26pm

Something that seems to be self-contradictory or absurd but that in reality expresses a possible truth is a paradox. Is there a word for the opposite of this?

I really enjoy the slippery duality of self-contradiction standing next to a possible truth.

Martha Barnette
San Diego, CA
820 Posts
(Offline)
2
2008/01/07 - 1:05pm

Um, "Mobius-strippy"? I don't know offhand.

Anyone, anyone?

I can tell you that someone once asked my father, an ethics professor, if he agreed that "life is a paradox." My father pondered the question for a while, then answered, "Well, yes. And no."

Guest
3
2008/01/08 - 11:48am

Well, I couldn't find a word in English, but there is one in Spanish "sensatez"...

Guest
4
2008/01/08 - 8:52pm

I don't know about opposite, but the (mathematical) inverse would be a "halfadox."

Martha Barnette
San Diego, CA
820 Posts
(Offline)
5
2008/01/10 - 9:21pm

Halfadox. I like that.

Mariana, would you mind telling us a little about Spanish "sensatez"? How would you use it?

Guest
6
2008/01/11 - 3:49am

The word "sensatez" is a noun that can be translated as the "a characteristic of a person who has sense".
Some synonyms I found are prudence, reason, reflexion(ponder), logic, good judgment,sanity, wisdom, although I guess the person acting with "sensatez" would have more than one of the synonyms I just mentioned

If I had to use it I would say:

"la sensatez de su discurso es sorprendente!" (the "sensatez" of her/his discourse is surprising)
Si actuas con sensatez, seria lógico que todo te salgan bien" (if you act with "sensatez", it'd be logical that everything will end up all right)

Dieverdog
7
2008/01/11 - 8:58am

My best guess would be "self-evident" (not needing to be demonstrated or explained is the definition given) as opposed to the definition of paradox: (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)
self-evident (or possibly "logical") would seem to be the two most direct answers that I can think of, but it's fun to see what others are coming up with.

Martha Barnette
San Diego, CA
820 Posts
(Offline)
8
2008/01/13 - 8:44pm

Mariana, thanks for that explanation.

Dave, do any of these suggestions work for you? Or have we still not zeroed in on what you're looking for?

dave maass
9
2008/01/15 - 10:40am

I'm good. Nice discussion. Even in my early old age I was hesitant to be so forward as to post a comment. It went well. Good experience. Nice discussion.

My big Random House says that paradox is a seemingly self-contradictory statement that reveals a possible truth. Maybe I'll go consult the Buddha: facts are true or false, arguments are valid or invalid. And the thing we call 'truth' is sometimes obvious, sometimes not. (Let's not mention this to Rush Limbaugh.)

Love your show. You two are now better than the Tappet Brothers.

Guest
10
2008/01/16 - 8:27pm

I think that to really answer this question, one must first consider what the opposite of a paradox IS before one can find a word for it.

If one considers a paradox to be a seeming contradiction that represents a deeper truth, then what is it's opposite?

A seeming contradiction that is, as it seems on the surface, represents a true contradiction?
A seeming non-contradiction that represent a truth?
A seeming non-contradiction that represents a falsity?

I would suspect that there is actually NO opposite of a paradox.

Glenn Atkinson
11
2008/02/28 - 5:45am

I would call it a "red herring." Something that seems obvious and self-evident, but hides a falsehood or danger.

Shaun
12
2008/03/02 - 5:59pm

Perhaps a tautology. A tautology is inherently true or synonymous yet adds nothing to our understanding of reality. It would seem to qualify as the opposite of both of your criterion for a paradox.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes,
Shaun

Guest
13
2008/03/03 - 7:32pm

Shaun said:

Perhaps a tautology.


I hope this helps.


I'll buy that.

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