The logical principle that contradictions are possible—that two opposing statements can both be true in different respects, from different perspectives, or at different levels of analysis. This principle challenges the classical law of non-contradiction (which says something cannot both be and not be in the same sense) by noting that "in the same sense" is doing crucial work. Different senses allow different truths. The Principle of Possible Contradiction is essential for understanding complex systems, where A can cause B and B can cause A, where order emerges from chaos, where love includes hate. It's the principle that lets us hold multiple perspectives without mental collapse, that allows wisdom to embrace paradox rather than flee from it.
Example: "He was both confident and terrified before his presentation—confident in his preparation, terrified of the audience. The Principle of Possible Contradiction said: both real, both true, both him. He didn't need to resolve the contradiction; he needed to perform with it. He did, and both feelings proved justified."
by Dumu The Void February 18, 2026
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