Antinomy

Pronunciation

• enPR: ăntÄ­'nÉ™mÄ“, IPA: /ænˈtɪnÉ™mi/

Origin

From Ancient Greek ἀντί (anti, "against") + νόμος (nomos, "custom, law"). Surface analysis -("opposite") + nomy("law") + -

Full definition of antinomy

Noun

1. An apparent contradiction between valid conclusions; a paradox

Usage notes

Do not confuse with antimony.

Kant used antinomy (Critique of Pure Reason, Bloom translation) to speak of two valid conclusions that appeared to contradict each other, but that could be resolved when it was seen that they were from two distinct and exclusive sets. So no paradox exists, only the inappropriate application of an idea from one set—being applied to another—causes a seeming paradox.

Synonyms

• paradox

Derived terms

• antinomian
• antinomianism

Anagrams

• antimony