P is for Paradox: A Trek Through the Landscape of Confusion
In this session, we will explore paradoxes: statements that appear to contradict themselves or our version of reality and thus cause cognitive dissonance.
We will use Quine’s classification to define 3 kinds of paradox: veridical, falsidical and antinomy and gives examples of each. Each example is designed to illuminate and lead to a higher understanding of the underlying phenomenon. Indeed, progress in many areas has been driven by a concerted effort to resolve certain stubborn paradoxes stymying the field. So paradoxes are to be welcomed, not feared.
We will analyze some famous paradoxes such as Zeno’s Paradox of motion, Russell’s paradox, Newcomb’s paradox, the Twins’ paradox in relativity and the Liar’s paradox, among others.
No special background in math or logic is required to follow this talk, but you need to be alert and attentive because paradoxes are, by definition, confusing.
About the Speaker:
Shahryar Khan is a graduate of physics from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad and PhD Physics candidate at University of Houston, USA. His research interests range from cosmology to condensed matter physics to chaos theory. He is also deeply interested in pure mathematics, philosophy and artificial intelligence.
This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.
The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
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