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Paradox: A Paradox Is A Statement That May Seem Contradictory But Can Be True (Or at Least Make Sense)

This paradox involves a "catch" in the military regulations during WWII, known as Catch-22. The catch creates a circular logic that a soldier is considered sane if they do not want to fly dangerous missions, but if they do not want to fly them they must be sane and are therefore required to fly them. However, if they fly the missions it proves they are crazy and do not have to. So there is no way within the regulations for a soldier to be considered sane yet exempt from flying more dangerous missions. The paradox creates a situation with no logical way out.

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33 views

Paradox: A Paradox Is A Statement That May Seem Contradictory But Can Be True (Or at Least Make Sense)

This paradox involves a "catch" in the military regulations during WWII, known as Catch-22. The catch creates a circular logic that a soldier is considered sane if they do not want to fly dangerous missions, but if they do not want to fly them they must be sane and are therefore required to fly them. However, if they fly the missions it proves they are crazy and do not have to. So there is no way within the regulations for a soldier to be considered sane yet exempt from flying more dangerous missions. The paradox creates a situation with no logical way out.

Uploaded by

Bianca Dianito
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PARADOX

A paradox is a statement that may seem


contradictory but can be true
(or at least make sense). 
"Less is more."
• This statement uses two opposites to
contradict one another.
• How can less be more? The concept is that
something less complicated is often more
appreciated. 
A paradox can be thought-provoking:
•Here are the rules: Ignore all rules.
•The second sentence is false. The
first sentence is true.
•I only message those who do not
message.
EXAMPLE 1 (w/explanation)
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. (It’s possible, though , that this paradox can be escaped by
suggesting that by “nobody” the speaker just means “none of our
friends.”)
EXAMPLE 2 (w/explanation)
I must be cruel only to be kind
(Hamlet III.IV.181)
This is a nice literary paradox, but not a logical one. Cruel and kind are
apparent contradictions, but of course it’s perfectly logical to say that
one must be cruel (in some minor way) in order to be kind (in some
other, more important way). There’s no logical contradiction, and
therefore no logical paradox. The character Hamlet, however, combines
disparate attributes of kindness and cruelty, so his personality is loosely
paradoxical.
EXAMPLE 3 (w/explanation)
I close my eyes so I can see
(Fugazi, Shut the Door)

In the lyrics to Fugazi’s song Shut the Door, there’s an apparent


contradiction between closing eyes and seeing. However, this is merely
a literary paradox (or an oxymoron, since it employs a double
entendre). Clearly, the word “see” isn’t being used literally in this case,
but rather figuratively – closing one’s eyes to the outside world allows
one to “see” internal truths.
Can you identify the paradox below?
There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified
that a concern for one’s safety in the face of dangers that were real
and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy
and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he
did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more
missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he
didn’t, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was
crazy and didn’t have to; but if he didn’t want to he was sane and
had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity
of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.
Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)

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