Paradox

Japanese: 逆説 - ぎゃくせつ

〘noun〙 (translation of paradox) 1. A way of expression that seems to go against the truth, but which, upon careful consideration, expresses a certain truth. A paradox. [Tetsugaku Jibun (1881)] *Classics and Modern Literature (1955)〈Yamamoto Kenkichi〉 Kakinomoto no Hitomaro: "It seems paradoxical, but it is precisely because Hitomaro was a court poet and a ghostwriter that he left behind such excellent lyrics." 2. A proposition that appears to have been derived from a logically correct inference from a seemingly self-evident proposition, but which contains a contradiction. A paradox. 3. A theory that goes against common sense, and for which it is difficult to find a valid argument to oppose it. Historically, Zeno's paradoxes, such as "Achilles cannot overtake the tortoise," are famous. A paradox. ④ = gyakusetsu (adversative conjunction) [Kokugo Hossatsu (1936)] [Glossary] In the first edition of the "Illustrated English-Japanese Vocabulary with Sounds" published in 1873 ( Meiji 6 ), it is written, "paradox: a theory that seems strange but is actually logical. A strange story." In the early Meiji period, "paradox" was not yet used. Later, in the "Tetsugaku Jii" (Philosophy Vocabulary), "paradox" was used as the translation, and in the reprint of the "English-Japanese Vocabulary" in 1875, "paradox" was added to the definition, and it is thought that this translation became established.

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙 (paradox の訳語)① 真理にそむいているようで、よく考えると一種の真理を言い表わしている表現法。逆理。パラドックス。〔哲学字彙（1881）〕※古典と現代文学（1955）〈山本健吉〉柿本人麻呂「逆説めくが、むしろ人麻呂が、御用詩人であり、代作詩人であるがゆえにすぐれた詞章を残したということ」② 一見自明な命題から論理的に正しい推論によってみちびきだされたように見えながら、矛盾をはらむ命題。逆理。パラドックス。③ 常理に反する説で、その説に反発する正当な論拠を見いだしがたいもの。歴史的には「アキレウスは亀に追いつけない」などのゼノンの逆説が名高い。逆理。パラドックス。④ ＝ぎゃくせつ（逆接）〔国語法査説（1936）〕[語誌]明治六年（一八七三）の「附音挿図英和字彙」初版には、「paradox 奇怪に似て反て道理ある説。奇怪の話」とあるように、明治初年には「逆説」はまだ用いられていなかった。その後「哲学字彙」で「逆説」が訳語に当てられ、同一五年の「英和字彙」再版で語釈に「逆説」が付加されたことによりこの訳語が定着していったと考えられる。

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