Some phrases are so tricky they might make you feel like up is down and left is right. But give them time and really think deeply. They do start to make sense. And just when you feel triumphant that you finally figured it out, they leave you with more questions.
Yes, dear pandas, we are talking about paradoxes. It’s honestly quite fascinating how simple words strung together can have such a mind-boggling effect. Well, if you want to challenge your brain a little, we have just the thing for you. Just go through this list of netizens’ favorite paradoxes that will do the magic trick!
#21
The [Jevons Paradox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox). Which states that, if anything comes around that increases the efficiency of consuming some resource, the demand for that resource will go up, leading to even *more* of it being consumed instead of less.
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12points
Although paradoxes can be complicated to comprehend at times, there’s no denying that they are equally enjoyable. After all, they have intrigued thinkers right from ancient times. Experts at the Paradox Museum claim that the confusion paradoxes create can be quite pleasurable.
Psychologists call this phenomenon “cognitive dissonance.” The experts point out that it’s akin to the delightful discomfort of holding two opposing beliefs in your mind. Paradoxes boost this sensation, making our brains perform mental gymnastics, they add.
#22
My favourite is this:
If you randomly guess at this multiple choice question what are the odds you get it right?
a) 25%
b) 50%
c) 25%
d) 0%
>!the solution is there is no right answer, we can prove this by condition:!<
>!case 1: the "right" answer is 25% well then you have a 50% chance of choosing 25 so then the right answer is not 25!<
>!case 2: the "right" answer is 50% well then you have a 25% chance of choosing 50 so that cant be right!<
>!case 3: the "right" answer is 0% well then you have a 25% chance of choosing that so thats not right!<
>!so there is no right answer! Even though it feels like there should be!
If you randomly guess at this multiple choice question what are the odds you get it right?
a) 25%
b) 50%
c) 25%
d) 0%
>!the solution is there is no right answer, we can prove this by condition:!<
>!case 1: the "right" answer is 25% well then you have a 50% chance of choosing 25 so then the right answer is not 25!<
>!case 2: the "right" answer is 50% well then you have a 25% chance of choosing 50 so that cant be right!<
>!case 3: the "right" answer is 0% well then you have a 25% chance of choosing that so thats not right!<
>!so there is no right answer! Even though it feels like there should be!
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11points
#23
The titanic sunk because of the weight of all the time travelers who came back to stop the titanic from sinking.
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11points
#24
A barber has a sign in front of his store that says:
"I shave anyone who does not shave himself, and nobody else"
Can the barber shave himself?
"I shave anyone who does not shave himself, and nobody else"
Can the barber shave himself?
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11points
Moreover, research emphasizes that our minds react differently when confronted with paradoxes. It explains that being open to paradoxical ideas is a trait called paradoxicality, and accepting it can enhance individuals’ creativity. It also notes that “Niels Bohr, a theoretical physicist and Nobel Prize winner, believed that by holding opposites together, the mind can reach a new level where traditional convergent thinking is suspended.”
#25
[Simpson's Paradox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simpson%27s_paradox)
Example 1: Berkeley admissions showed that men were significantly more likely to be admitted than women, but when looking at each individual department there was either no bias, or an apparent bias for women.
Example 2: In 1995 and 1996 David Justice had a higher batting average than Derek Jeter, but when you combine the two years, Derek Jeter has a higher average.
Example 1: Berkeley admissions showed that men were significantly more likely to be admitted than women, but when looking at each individual department there was either no bias, or an apparent bias for women.
Example 2: In 1995 and 1996 David Justice had a higher batting average than Derek Jeter, but when you combine the two years, Derek Jeter has a higher average.
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11points
#26
Oscar the Grouch's happiness (Sesame Street)
Oscar LOVES being angry. So when he's angry, he gets happy. But he HATES being happy, so he is then angry about being happy. Now he's happy because he's angry again. Continue for eternity.
Oscar LOVES being angry. So when he's angry, he gets happy. But he HATES being happy, so he is then angry about being happy. Now he's happy because he's angry again. Continue for eternity.
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11points
#27
The Beethoven paradox
A man builds a time machine to go back in time and meet his favourite composer, Beethoven.
When he gets there, though, no one seems to know who Beethoven is, not even his family: it's like he never existed.
Luckily, the man brought with him all the symphonies Beethoven wrote to get them autographed, so he copies all of them, becoming himself Beethoven.
Now, who wrote those symphonies?
A man builds a time machine to go back in time and meet his favourite composer, Beethoven.
When he gets there, though, no one seems to know who Beethoven is, not even his family: it's like he never existed.
Luckily, the man brought with him all the symphonies Beethoven wrote to get them autographed, so he copies all of them, becoming himself Beethoven.
Now, who wrote those symphonies?
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11points
Well, dear readers, you might improve your creativity by going through this entire list. Don’t forget to upvote the ones that you loved. And if you know any other paradoxes, feel free to drop them in the comments. Also, if you want to keep challenging yourself, go through our older list of paradoxes that might break your brain!
#28
The surprise examination (aka the unexpected hanging paradox).
Your teacher says you'll have a test next week on a day that you won't be able to predict, not even the morning before the test. So all you know is that it will be one of the days from Monday to Friday.
But is Friday really possible? If it's Friday morning, and you haven't had the test yet, then you would be able to predict with absolute certainty that the test will be that same day, so there's no way the test can be on Friday. Clearly, it must be one of the days from Monday to Thursday.
But is Thursday really possible?
EDIT: Ok, seems like I have to add some clarifying information. **First:** By "predict", I mean "be absolutely certain that there is a test that day", not to just happen to guess right. **Second:** There are people claiming that the teacher is making an erroneous or logically false statement. That's not true. If the teacher gives the exam on Tuesday, then that's a day that the students can't predict. The teacher **doesn't claim** that a test would be unpredictable on any day next week, only that the test will be on a day that isn't predictable.
Your teacher says you'll have a test next week on a day that you won't be able to predict, not even the morning before the test. So all you know is that it will be one of the days from Monday to Friday.
But is Friday really possible? If it's Friday morning, and you haven't had the test yet, then you would be able to predict with absolute certainty that the test will be that same day, so there's no way the test can be on Friday. Clearly, it must be one of the days from Monday to Thursday.
But is Thursday really possible?
EDIT: Ok, seems like I have to add some clarifying information. **First:** By "predict", I mean "be absolutely certain that there is a test that day", not to just happen to guess right. **Second:** There are people claiming that the teacher is making an erroneous or logically false statement. That's not true. If the teacher gives the exam on Tuesday, then that's a day that the students can't predict. The teacher **doesn't claim** that a test would be unpredictable on any day next week, only that the test will be on a day that isn't predictable.
11points
#29
The more you try to argue with someone, the less likely they are to agree with your point. That's why you shouldn't argue. I think discussing would be better.
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11points
#31
The one where you can decompose a sphere and end up with two spheres of the same size.
10points
#32
How 0.9 repeating is equal to 1
There’s lots of different ways to prove it but the simplest for me is this example:
X = 0.9999...
Multiply it by 10, so 10X = 9.9999...
Subtract 1X from 10X or 9.999... - 0.9999... which equals 9
So then 9X = 9, simplify to X = 1
I was in denial for a good bit when I first heard of this.
There’s lots of different ways to prove it but the simplest for me is this example:
X = 0.9999...
Multiply it by 10, so 10X = 9.9999...
Subtract 1X from 10X or 9.999... - 0.9999... which equals 9
So then 9X = 9, simplify to X = 1
I was in denial for a good bit when I first heard of this.
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10points
#33
John Connor sending his own father back in time and his father conceiving John on the same trip.
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10points
#34
"The following statement is true.
The statement above is false."
It bends my mind, trying to understand this.
The statement above is false."
It bends my mind, trying to understand this.
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9points
#35
Camus regards The Absurd as a paradox. Humans are constantly driven to seek meaning in a world that doesn't appear to have any.
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9points
#36
There is a smallest number that is not nameable in less than 18 syllables. But "The smallest number not nameable in less than 18 syllables" has seventeen syllables and names the same number.
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9points
#37
In Twilight Struggle, a board game where you play out the Cold War with one player as the USA and another as the USSR, the first part of the turn is called the Headline Phase. Each player plays a card and resolves it. The USA has a card called Defectors which cancels the USSR's card during the Headline phase. However, the USSR can get it. And if they play it during the Headline phase, it cancels the USSR's card, which cancels canceling the card, causing it to happen, which cancels it, but it cancels canceling the card, and so on.
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9points
#38
Sorites Paradox; When e x a c t l y does heap of a million grains of sand turn into a "non-heap" when you take away grains of sand one at a time.
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8points
#39
The word "indescribable" was created so that nothing can be truly indescribable. Think about that one for a moment.
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8points
#40
The Agressive Piggy is walking in the forest. Afairy flies up to him, and says:
-Hey Agressive Piggy! I'll make two wishes of yours come true!
-Hello Irritating Fairy, put an unremovable nail in this tree!
*MagiC happens*
-Alright, my second wish is that you pull it out!
-Hey Agressive Piggy! I'll make two wishes of yours come true!
-Hello Irritating Fairy, put an unremovable nail in this tree!
*MagiC happens*
-Alright, my second wish is that you pull it out!
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8points
