What are Paradoxes?
A paradox is a statement that is logically self-contradictory or severely counter-intuitive, yet rigorous. Paradoxes are not simple errors — many are mathematically and philosophically sound. They reveal the limits of our own cognitive frameworks.A paradox is not a problem to be solved but a tension to be lived with.The value of paradoxes: they force us beyond habitual modes of thinking, revealing deeper truths in the space of contradiction. This category covers 32 classic paradoxes, organized into four groups:
- Logic & Mathematical Paradoxes: challenge the edges of formal logic
- Philosophy & Identity Paradoxes: probe existence, identity, and choice
- Economic & Social Paradoxes: counter-intuitive patterns in society
- Science & Cosmic Paradoxes: deep puzzles from physics and reality
Logic & Mathematical Paradoxes
Liar's Paradox
“This sentence is false” — if true, then false; if false, then true
Russell's Paradox
Does the set of all sets that don’t contain themselves contain itself?
Zeno's Paradoxes
You must first travel half the distance — so how can motion ever begin?
Sorites Paradox
Remove one grain of sand — is it still a heap? Where is the boundary?
Simpson's Paradox
A trend visible in subgroups disappears or reverses when the groups are combined
Raven's Paradox
Does observing a yellow banana confirm that “all ravens are black”?
Arrow's Impossibility Theorem
No voting system can perfectly translate individual preferences into a group ranking
St. Petersburg Paradox
A game with infinite expected value — yet rational players won’t pay much to play
Newcomb's Paradox
A decision theory puzzle about prediction and free choice
Unexpected Hanging Paradox
Told he’ll be hanged on an “unexpected” day, a prisoner deduces he cannot be
Philosophy & Identity Paradoxes
Ship of Theseus
If every plank is replaced, is it still the same ship?
Grandfather Paradox
Travel back to stop your grandparents from meeting — can you still exist?
Bootstrap Paradox
An object sent back through time has no traceable origin
Omnipotence Paradox
Can an all-powerful being create a stone it cannot lift?
Buridan's Ass
A perfectly rational donkey equidistant from two haystacks starves to death
Catch-22
Contradictory rules make escape logically impossible
Hedgehog's Dilemma
The closer hedgehogs get for warmth, the more they hurt each other with their spines
Paradox of Tolerance
Unlimited tolerance ultimately leads to the destruction of tolerance itself
Economic & Social Paradoxes
Paradox of Choice
More options leads to lower satisfaction and greater decision paralysis
Jevons Paradox
Increasing resource efficiency can lead to greater total consumption
Easterlin Paradox
Within a country, wealthier people are happier — but wealthier nations aren’t necessarily happier
Paradox of Thrift
If everyone saves more at the same time, the economy contracts
Diamond-Water Paradox
Why is a diamond — useless for survival — worth more than water?
Friendship Paradox
On average, your friends have more friends than you do
Inspection Paradox
You’re more likely to observe a longer-than-average event
Paradox of Hedonism
Directly pursuing pleasure often yields less of it
Braess's Paradox
Adding capacity to a network can sometimes reduce overall efficiency
Science & Cosmic Paradoxes
Fermi Paradox
The universe is vast and old — so where is everyone?
Olbers' Paradox
If the universe is infinite and full of stars, why is the night sky dark?
Moravec's Paradox
What is easy for humans (perception, movement) is hard for AI — and vice versa
Stockdale Paradox
Confront the brutal facts of your current reality while maintaining unwavering faith in the outcome
Abilene Paradox
A group collectively decides on something that none of its members actually want