antinomy

[an-tin-uh-mee]

antinomy Definition

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

Using antinomy: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "antinomy" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The antinomy between free will and determinism has puzzled philosophers for centuries.

  • Example

    The antinomy of democracy is that it requires both individual freedom and collective responsibility.

  • Example

    The antinomy of tolerance is that it must tolerate intolerance.

antinomy Synonyms and Antonyms

Phrases with antinomy

  • Kant's antinomies

    a set of four pairs of contradictory statements in Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, which he believed demonstrated the limitations of human reason

    Example

    Kant's antinomies illustrate the inherent contradictions in our attempts to understand the nature of reality.

  • the idea that there is no objective standard for determining the quality or beauty of art, and that judgments of taste are entirely subjective

    Example

    The antinomy of taste means that what one person finds beautiful, another may find ugly.

  • the idea that as we approach an object, it appears larger but less distinct, while as we move away from it, it appears smaller but more distinct

    Example

    The antinomy of distance is a phenomenon that artists have long struggled to capture in their work.

Origins of antinomy

from Greek 'antinomia', meaning 'against law'

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Summary: antinomy in Brief

'Antinomy' [an-tin-uh-mee] refers to a contradiction between two reasonable beliefs or conclusions, often resulting in a paradox. Examples include the antinomy of democracy, which requires both individual freedom and collective responsibility, and the antinomy of tolerance, which must tolerate intolerance. The term also encompasses Kant's antinomies, a set of four pairs of contradictory statements that demonstrate the limitations of human reason.