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par·a·dox
1. A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true: the paradox that standing is more tiring than walking.
2. One exhibiting inexplicable or contradictory aspects: "The silence of midnight, to speak truly, though apparently a paradox, rung in my ears" Mary Shelley.
3. An assertion that is essentially self-contradictory, though based on a valid deduction from acceptable premises.
4. A statement contrary to received opinion
Another perspective-
A paradox is an apparently true statement or group of statements that leads to a contradiction or a situation which defies intuition. The recognition of ambiguities, equivocations, and unstated assumptions can result in significant personal growth.
I have been wanting to write about this for awhile. I still do not have all my thoughts reduced to a coherent post, but this is a start.
As I have written here before, my Uncle coined the phrase "Truth is the shattered mirror scattered, he who finds a piece thinks he has the whole.:
It is the tendency to discover a principle that is true, and then make it the centerpiece, or life basis, for all subsequent thoughts or decisions. While the principle may be true, it is almost certainly NOT the entire truth, but, rather, just a piece of the shattered mirror scattered. Thus, making it a large factor, or entire basis for all subsequent thoughts and decisions, would result in ignoring all the other pieces of the mirror (truth) and living an unbalanced and (how to put it nicely?) ignorant life.
ANOTHER important principle is that ALMOST ALL pieces of truth, especially the more powerful ones, appear to be paradoxes.
It has been said that genius is being able to hold two opposing points of view simultaneously (without experiencing mental/emotional discomfort).
If we accept that most powerful principles are apparently contradictory on the surface, we have made a great stride in understanding life (and being geniuses
).
Here are a few examples:
What is mature love? It is union under the condition of preserving one's integrity, one's individuality. In love the paradox occurs that two beings become one and yet remain two.
Erich Fromm
Almost every wise saying has an opposite one, no less wise to balance it.
George Santayana
The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.
Niels Bohr
The sane person always cares more for truth than consistency. If he sees two truths that seem to contradict each other, he accepts both truths and the contradiction along with them. His intellectual sight is stereoscopic, like his physical sight: he sees two different pictures at once and yet sees all the better for that.
G. K. Chesterton
Why is this an important/relevant subject?
As we move toward improved health- physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, we will inevitably experience the complicated (but simple ) nature of our beings.
It has been said that understanding is more valuable than gold, and it certainly is needed as we delve into all the opportunities that exist for personal growth.
I will post more on this as inspired.
1. A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true: the paradox that standing is more tiring than walking.
2. One exhibiting inexplicable or contradictory aspects: "The silence of midnight, to speak truly, though apparently a paradox, rung in my ears" Mary Shelley.
3. An assertion that is essentially self-contradictory, though based on a valid deduction from acceptable premises.
4. A statement contrary to received opinion
Another perspective-
A paradox is an apparently true statement or group of statements that leads to a contradiction or a situation which defies intuition. The recognition of ambiguities, equivocations, and unstated assumptions can result in significant personal growth.
Understanding the paradoxical nature of Truth...
I have been wanting to write about this for awhile. I still do not have all my thoughts reduced to a coherent post, but this is a start.
As I have written here before, my Uncle coined the phrase "Truth is the shattered mirror scattered, he who finds a piece thinks he has the whole.:
It is the tendency to discover a principle that is true, and then make it the centerpiece, or life basis, for all subsequent thoughts or decisions. While the principle may be true, it is almost certainly NOT the entire truth, but, rather, just a piece of the shattered mirror scattered. Thus, making it a large factor, or entire basis for all subsequent thoughts and decisions, would result in ignoring all the other pieces of the mirror (truth) and living an unbalanced and (how to put it nicely?) ignorant life.
ANOTHER important principle is that ALMOST ALL pieces of truth, especially the more powerful ones, appear to be paradoxes.
It has been said that genius is being able to hold two opposing points of view simultaneously (without experiencing mental/emotional discomfort).
If we accept that most powerful principles are apparently contradictory on the surface, we have made a great stride in understanding life (and being geniuses
).Here are a few examples:
What is mature love? It is union under the condition of preserving one's integrity, one's individuality. In love the paradox occurs that two beings become one and yet remain two.
Erich Fromm
Almost every wise saying has an opposite one, no less wise to balance it.
George Santayana
The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.
Niels Bohr
The sane person always cares more for truth than consistency. If he sees two truths that seem to contradict each other, he accepts both truths and the contradiction along with them. His intellectual sight is stereoscopic, like his physical sight: he sees two different pictures at once and yet sees all the better for that.
G. K. Chesterton
Why is this an important/relevant subject?
As we move toward improved health- physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, we will inevitably experience the complicated (but simple
) nature of our beings.It has been said that understanding is more valuable than gold, and it certainly is needed as we delve into all the opportunities that exist for personal growth.
I will post more on this as inspired.
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