We've all come across a paradox or two during our lifetimes, be it the grandfather paradox made famous by several iconic films, the liar paradox, paradox of free will, Russells, the list of examples is seemingly endless and spans all range of disciplines from science and mathematics to philosophy and linguistics. Even chemistry and biology have several between them.

So why on earth would paradoxes be built into the universe? Are contradictions fundamentally necessary? Do paradoxes somehow govern the laws of nature or obey some true laws of nature we have yet to discover? Or are they merely generated by false assumptions regarding the subject of the paradox - A fallacy in the understanding of how time works for example. Or where the self ends and begins. Or the meaning of language?

Perhaps the universe has no paradoxes only assumptions. And those assumptions when combined correctly contradict eachother just as one persons belief or lifestyle may contradict anothers only if they were to encounter one another. Could paradoxes simply be a by-product of conscious awareness. A necessary boundary to allow limitless imagination, speculation and query in a universe that otherwise may just have determined laws and strict defined regulation that would not permit the fluidity or plasticity of thought and combination of ideas that the mind can and does generate.

Is argument itself not the ultimate paradox? Should you ever consider an idea or hold a belief you will inadvertently encounter opposition. Why is there rarely unanimity of thought between conscious beings? Is the sensation of self, of ego, of ones success in a limited existence paradoxic to anothers? Ones wealth, anothers poverty. Ones authority, anothers submission.

If there is any ultimate truth out there it certainly would demonstrate the contradictory nature of its pursuit. The transience of agreement and the overwhelming lack of logic to many aspects of experience. What do you think a paradox is and why it exists? Is there anything in common that links paradoxes together? Could it be one simple rule that manifests as a different contradiction when applied to different disciplines? All views encouraged and welcome :)