antinomy

Advancedzipf 1.54

Pronunciation

/ænˈtɪnəmi/(an-TIN-uh-mee)

Part of speech

nounformal

Chinese

二律背反；矛盾

Definition

A contradiction between two beliefs or conclusions that are in themselves reasonable; a fundamental paradox.

Word family

  • antinomic/ˌæntɪˈnɒmɪk/(adj)矛盾的

Collocations

  • fundamental antinomy
  • resolve an antinomy
  • Kantian antinomy
  • apparent antinomy

Examples

  1. 1.The antinomy between free will and determinism has occupied philosophers for centuries. (fundamental paradox)
  2. 2.Kant identified antinomies of pure reason — questions where both sides can be logically proved. (irresolvable contradiction)

Synonyms

  • paradox/ˈpærədɒks/— seemingly contradictory truth
  • contradiction/ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkʃən/— opposition between ideas
  • dilemma/dɪˈlɛmə/— difficult choice between options

Etymology

from Greek "antinomia" — anti- (against) + nomos (law) — a conflict between laws or principles