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Examples of Paradox in Literature. Paradox is an effective literary device as a means of creating interest in a literary work and engendering thought on the part of the reader. Here are some examples of paradox and how it adds to the significance of well-known literary works: Example 1: Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
- Catch-22. A Catch-22 is a paradoxical situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory constraints or rules. The term originated from Joseph Heller’s novel “Catch-22,” where a World War II bomber pilot encounters absurd and self-contradictory bureaucracy.
- Fermi Paradox. The Fermi Paradox is the apparent contradiction between the high probability of extraterrestrial civilizations existing and the lack of evidence or contact with such civilizations.
- Prisoner’s Dilemma. The Prisoner’s Dilemma is a standard example of a game analyzed in game theory that shows why two rational individuals might not cooperate, even if it appears that it is in their best interest to do so.
- Ship of Theseus. The Ship of Theseus is a thought experiment that raises questions about identity and continuity, asking whether an object that has had all its components replaced remains fundamentally the same object.
Paradox Examples. Paradox appear in all sorts of writing, from literature, to speeches, to song lyrics. The examples below show some of each. Paradox Examples in Literature. In literature, paradoxes can create humor, express the confusion or frustration of a seeming impossibility, or make clear the absurdity of an unexpected situation.
- ACHILLES AND THE TORTOISE. The Paradox of Achilles and the Tortoise is one of a number of theoretical discussions of movement put forward by the Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea in the 5th century BC.
- THE BOOTSTRAP PARADOX. The Bootstrap Paradox is a paradox of time travel that questions how something that is taken from the future and placed in the past could ever come into being in the first place.
- THE BOY OR GIRL PARADOX. Imagine that a family has two children, one of whom we know to be a boy. What then is the probability that the other child is a boy?
- THE CARD PARADOX. Imagine you’re holding a postcard in your hand, on one side of which is written, “The statement on the other side of this card is true.”
May 26, 2024 · Paradox example. “Less is more” is an everyday example of a paradox. This saying is typically used to highlight the impact and appeal of a simple, minimalist aesthetic. Examples of paradoxes can be found in everyday expressions, literature, and academic domains such as logic and philosophy.
There are many famous examples of paradox from logicians and philosophers. One of the most famous paradoxes is called the liar’s paradox, and is evident in the following sentence: “This statement is false.” Another variation of the liar’s paradox would be, “Everything I say is a lie.”
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Examples of Paradox. Example 1. Nobody goes to Murphy’s Bar anymore — it’s too crowded. If the bar is crowded, then lots of people are going. But if so many people are going, it makes no sense to say “nobody goes” there anymore.
