Human language is astounding. Even some of the most cognitively challenged among us produce elaborate constructions that often involve almost impossible-seeming abstraction and absurdity. We not only use complex metaphors and plays on words, but are even capable of uttering phrases that seemingly violate logic to its very core.

There is a well-known paradox in language known as the Liar's Paradox. This paradox takes a variety of forms, but deals with the same fundamental concept: While we hold it as a fundamental fact that everything is either true or false (not true), it is entirely possible for us to casually utter and write sentences that are seemingly neither true nor false…

"This sentence is false."

If the sentence above is false, then it is not true that it is false… and it is therefore true. But if the sentence above is true, then it is true that it is false, and it must therefore be false. Either truth value results in the opposing and incompatible truth value.

For a more in-depth analysis of this phenomenon, check out this video: