trilemma

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Audiendus
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trilemma

Postby Audiendus » Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:01 am

Trilemma (noun)

(From Greek tri-, three, and lemma, proposition)

1. A situation in which there are three possible options, all of them undesirable or implausible.

2. A situation in which, out of three desired or considered attributes, no more than two are possible together.

Examples of each sense:

(1) If Jesus said he was God, either he was lying, or he was mad, or he really was God.

(1) If the troops advanced, they were likely to be slaughtered; if they retreated, they would have to cross a swollen river and risk drowning; if they stayed put, they would soon run out of supplies.

(2) [the "Žižek trilemma"] If you are honest and intelligent, you cannot be a communist; if you are intelligent and a communist, you cannot be honest; and if you are honest and a communist, you cannot be intelligent.

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Slava
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Postby Slava » Mon Jul 18, 2011 8:29 pm

Taken up and treated by the Good Doctor here.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.


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