aporia

American  

[uh-pawr-ee-uh, uh-pohr-] / əˈpɔr i ə, əˈpoʊr- /

noun

plural

aporias, aporiae

1. Rhetoric. the expression of a simulated or real doubt, as about where to begin or what to do or say.

2. Logic, Philosophy. a difficulty encountered in establishing the theoretical truth of a proposition, created by the presence of evidence both for and against it.

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aporia British  

/ əˈpɔːrɪə, ˌæpəˈrɛtɪk /

noun

1. rhetoric a doubt, real or professed, about what to do or say

2. philosophy puzzlement occasioned by the raising of philosophical objections without any proffered solutions, esp in the works of Socrates

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Other Word Forms

• aporetic adjective

Etymology

Origin of aporia

1580–90; < Late Latin < Greek: state of being at a loss, equivalent to ápor ( os ) impassable ( a- ⁶, pore ² ) + -ia -ia

Example Sentences

A Spectrum service disruption, a Con Ed mistake; a metaphor, an aporia, a sci-fi cliché: At the Stenner/Lucas apartment, the screen goes blank, the phones are dead, the laptops are “lifeless.”

From New York Times • Oct. 20, 2020

The four thirtysomethings have reached an aporia: “Adult life has fully revealed itself, wearing a limp, grey dressing gown.”

From The New Yorker • Sep. 24, 2018

In each case, he dealt with a jarring aporia in his perspective simply through the affirmation of a soaring, if somewhat base, sentiment.

From The Guardian • May 28, 2012

Apostrophe** or aporia*** or comprobatio* or argumentum ad populumM serve to put the speaker in a given relation with ‘Evading an issue by digression. You may have noticed it happening on the news. “

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

“To be, or not to be ... ” may be the most celebrated aporia in literary history.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith