Episode 47

full
Published on:

27th Sep 2026

Episode 47: paradox

There are lots of ideas that seem like they shouldn't be true: that one infinity might be larger than another or that mass could somehow be equated with energy. We consider a related concept in today's episode: paradox. Today, a paradox is generally understood as a statement that is self-contradicting or even nonsensical but that nevertheless contains some element of truth. It's a word that comes to us from Greek and its own rich vocabulary surrounding belief and opinion. To close out, we consider a paradox that appears in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. It's a reminder that what seems at first to be a paradox might simply turn out to be wrong.

Suggest a word for a future episode or support this podcast at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wordswordswords

Music: Adapted from Sonatine by Maurice Ravel, performed by Irene Posviatovska (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

---

https://originalpublicmeaning.com

Show artwork for Original Public Meaning

About the Podcast

Original Public Meaning
Exploring the ancient roots of modern words
Where do our modern English words come from? And what do their long histories tell us about the wider world today? On Original Public Meaning, we unearth ancient etymology and consider how our vast, rich literature—fiction, essays, science, and more—can help us savor our words today.
Support This Show

About your host

Profile picture for Charles McNamara

Charles McNamara

Assistant Professor of Classics, University of Georgia