Paradox is a word that comes from the Latin paradoxus, and wants to say the opposite of the common opinion, where “to” has as its meaning “the opposite of” and “doxus” meaning “opinion”. Currently paradox, more precisely, refers to an idea that apparently has within itself its own contradiction.
The paradox is a valid idea that is in accordance with logic, with science, or that it has a poetic effect, but that, however, it seems contrary to common sense, one has the impression that it could not be correct. The paradox to be the opposite of what is correct, without being wrong. It often appears as a fantastic idea, incredible and amazing.
The paradox is a logical idea, but its structure is such that it seems not to have nexus. Thus, for example, a paradoxical statement will display the words opposite, contrary among themselves, being used to make a logical affirmation, or that has a lot of sense.
The paradoxes are also understood as ideas or opinions that even not having the appearance of a contradiction in itself contradict the opinion and common sense usually accepted. That is, statements that sound absurd, which is presented as truth can also be referred to as paradoxes.
Paradoxes are part of the history of science and philosophy. Becoming often discovered fantastic or incredible ideas that are used to illustrate the theory in a way thought-provoking. As is the case of the paradox of the twins of Albert Einstein in the field of science and of the paradox of Zeno in the area of philosophy.
The paradoxes can be classified into two large main groups. In the first group we have the paradoxes according to its truthfulness, and the conditions that form it. In this group we find: paradoxes true; antinomies; antinomies of definition; and the paradoxes of conditional. In the second group we find the paradoxes according to the area of knowledge in which originate. In this group we have: the paradoxes of logical/mathematical; paradoxes of probability and statistics; paradoxes of logic; paradoxes about the infinite; paradoxes in geometry; the paradoxes of physics; and the paradoxes of the economy.
Figure of speech
communication, which aim to express in a given sentence, text, or utterance, in a sense that is not literal through the use of a figurative language.
To enlarge the meaning of a word, term or expression lending greater expressiveness or artistic quality of a particular utterance or discourse are employed for figures of speech.
Are examples of figures of language, the metonymy, antithesis, metaphor, and etc. And enters the figures of speech we find also the paradox, much used as a feature in poetry and song lyrics.
The paradox of Zeno
The Greek philosopher pre-socratic Zeno of Andread, who lived in the fifth century before Christ, developed some paradoxes logical/philosophical important that proposed to challenge our impressions about the movement. The paradox most famous of these is the race of Achilles against the Tortoise.
Achilles participates in a race against a turtle. Achilles a great warrior, feeling very superior, the turtle allows it to exit in front of you and gives you a certain advantage in the race. After she reaches a certain distance from the Achilles comes out of the point of starting. Zeno proposes so here’s a paradox. When Achilles reaches the turtle she is no longer at that point, and when Achilles reach the next point where the turtle is, again, it is no longer at this point.The paradox of Zeno says that Achilles will never reach the turtle, as the turtle if distance is increasingly less in relation to the Achilles yet so she away, and this can be broken down to infinity.
Temporal Paradox
The temporal paradox is usually appear in documentaries about physics and science fiction movies. This is a curious conclusion that if arrives to reflect on the idea of travelling back in time.
Imagine that a person can enter in a time machine and in the past, kill your grandfather before that this has generated to your father. Thus, if the father of the time traveler was not born, he could not have been born. However, if he was not born as you could get in a time machine and travel to the past and killing your grandfather?
The paradox of the Twins
The paradox of the twins, this is a conclusion motivated by the theory of relativity developed by Albert Einstein. The theory of relativity proves that travel near the speed of light time passes more slowly, to the point that at speeds very close to that of light, a traveler has the feeling of having the past few minutes, while years have passed on earth. And there we have the paradox of the twins: if one twin travels at the speed of light and the other remains on earth, when the first return to the planet to find his brother much older than he.
The paradox of Epicurus
Epicurus is a Greek philosopher from the 3rd century before Christ. He develops a reflection on the evil and the nature of God that became known as the Paradox of Epicurus. Its conclusion goes against the idea that God is omnipresent, omniscient, and onibenevolante. Because if there is evil, for it is by that or God is not always present, or does not know everything or not is totally good.
