aporia

[ uh-pawr-ee-uh, uh-pohr- ]

noun

, plural a·po·ri·as, a·po·ri·ae [uh, -, pawr, -ee-ee, uh, -, pohr, -].

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.

aporia

/ 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

Derived Forms

• aporetic, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aporia¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of aporia¹

C16: from Greek, literally: a state of being at a loss

Example Sentences

Often Socratic conversation induces utter confusion—the ancient Greek word is aporia—and ends with no clear solution to a problem.

From The Daily Beast