10 Paradoxes

1. The Paradox of Sense Certainty

Why it’s a paradox:

People trust their senses — seeing is believing. Yet, Lyndon LaRouche argued that reality often contradicts sensory experience. For example, the Earth feels still, but it moves. The paradox is that what feels most certain (the senses) is often the most deceptive, and only abstract, creative reasoning reveals deeper truth.

Resolution: True knowledge comes from discovering why the senses deceive — through hypothesis and discovery, not observation alone.

2. The Leibniz-Newton Paradox

Why it’s a paradox:

Newton is celebrated as a founder of modern science, yet LaRouche argued his methods were reductionist and false. The paradox lies in the idea that modern science is built on flawed foundations, and that the true scientific revolution (Leibniz's metaphysics and dynamics) is largely ignored.

Resolution: Re-assessing science through the lens of creativity and metaphysics (à la Leibniz) corrects the apparent contradiction.

3. The Paradox of Economic Value

Why it’s a paradox:

Classical and Marxist economics claim value stems from scarcity or labor, yet economies grow through non-linear innovation. The paradox: value is not found in present labor or goods, but in the future potential enabled by technological leaps.

Resolution: Creativity and scientific progress—not static labor or exchange—generate real economic value.

4. The Riemannian Geometry Paradox

Why it’s a paradox:

Euclidean geometry feels “true” and logical — but it can’t explain real physical phenomena (like gravity). Riemann introduced geometries that seemed irrational at first, but proved more accurate. The paradox is that to get closer to physical reality, geometry had to become more abstract and less intuitive.

Resolution: Abandoning intuitive logic can lead to greater truth — creative reasoning surpasses axiomatic logic.

5. The Classical vs. Romantic Art Paradox

Why it’s a paradox:

Romantic and modern art are emotionally expressive, which should make them deeply human. Yet LaRouche argued that true humanism lies in structured expression that resolves tension, as in Classical music. The paradox: emotional chaos (Romanticism) feels human but degrades the soul, while disciplined art (Classical) elevates it.

Resolution: Emotion and reason must be harmonized through metaphor and irony — not left to raw expression.

6. The Human Creativity vs. Artificial Intelligence Paradox

Why it’s a paradox:

Computers outperform humans in logic and data — so why can’t they innovate? The paradox is that systems that are "smarter" than humans in some ways are incapable of actual creativity, because creativity involves breaking formal systems.

Resolution: Human creativity is not programmable because it operates on a higher ontological level than algorithmic logic.

7. The Democratic Paradox

Why it’s a paradox:

Democracy implies rule by the people, yet LaRouche claimed that popular opinion is manufactured by elites. The paradox is that systems claiming to empower the people are often tools of control, as voters operate within narratives they didn’t create.

Resolution: A truly free society requires citizens capable of independent, creative thought — not mass media conditioning.

8. The Promethean Paradox

Why it’s a paradox:

Prometheus brings fire (knowledge), a gift to humanity, but is punished for it. The paradox: doing the right and noble thing leads to suffering, because entrenched power fears change. LaRouche saw this mirrored in scientists, artists, and dissidents punished by society.

Resolution: Creative individuals must defy authority to advance civilization, embracing short-term pain for long-term good.

9. The Entropy vs. Negentropy Paradox

Why it’s a paradox:

Physics teaches that all systems decay (entropy), yet life organizes itself into more complex forms. The paradox is that living systems appear to contradict the Second Law of Thermodynamics — and human creativity increases order, not chaos.

Resolution: Human thought and life are negentropic, capable of reversing entropy by creating new levels of organization.

10. The British Empire Paradox

Why it’s a paradox:

The British-led global financial system claims to promote free markets and liberal values, yet LaRouche claimed it was an oligarchic tool of oppression and stagnation. The paradox is that the defenders of progress and freedom are actually anti-progress.

Resolution: Institutions must be judged by outcomes and hidden structures, not by their stated principles.