In Praise of Paradox

Monday, July 17, 2006

Paradox

From Merriam-Webster:

1 : a tenet contrary to received opinion

2 a : a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true b : a self-contradictory statement that at first seems true c : an argument that apparently derives self-contradictory conclusions by valid deduction from acceptable premises

3 : one (as a person, situation, or action) having
seemingly contradictory qualities or phases
It is the second that is most pertinent. Nearly all of life is paradox -- good answers that seem to contradict. We should use our judgment, formed by experience, to muddle through and find the better answer, rather than use our skills to seek to avoid the conflict in the first instance. Keep this in mind at all times: there are no universal strong solutions. That does not mean there is no objective truth, however.

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