Meaning & use
aporia
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A state of puzzlement or logical contradiction, especially one used to explore or expose an unresolved philosophical difficulty.
See it in a sentence
Socrates often led his students to a state of aporia before offering any real answers.
The essay's ending stages an aporia, refusing to resolve the tension it raises.
A note on using this word
A technical term from classical rhetoric and philosophy, rarely used outside academic writing.
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