In this short article we would like to introduce the concept of identifying paradoxical philosophies. We consider a philosophy to be paradoxical where if that philosophy were to be adopted and enacted by every member of a species, it would lead to the extinction of that species. Dealing with life in a way that ends it is not something that can remain in reality for an extended period of time. We include this definition of paradoxical philosophies in the Zandarian Lexicon, a set of terms and definitions that we are developing meant to bridge the conceptual and communicational gaps between various schools of science, philosophy, spirituality and magic.

For a starting example, let us distill war down to its most basic function: eliminate the weak and acquire their assets. If this were to be believed to be the prime philosophy of humanity, then a successful warrior would have eliminated everyone weaker than themself and acquired all of their assets. However, if everyone weaker is gone, then that makes this warrior the weakest in their environment, and so they will be eliminated next in the sequence. Thus, a successful warrior is a dead warrior. A global victory is the extinction of one’s own species. 

One more example we’d like to examine in this article is monoculture farming. When distilled to its most basic function, monoculture farming consolidates the land to serve a single intended purpose decided by the farmer. If everyone were to believe that changing the land away from functioning within the natural cycles of the planet that brought life into being, then the cycles of life on that planet would be halted and life no longer functional. In a broader sense, a consideration that the natural cycles of a planet are in some way external to the functions and activities of any lifeform on that planet is indeed a consideration that that lifeform is incompatible with life on that planet and such considerations will direct this lifeform towards removal from that planet—extinction. To put it simply: if we remove ourselves from the various chemical and energy cycles involved in life on the planet then we will be removed from the planet and perish.

Paradoxical philosophies like these share a common factor, a common concept: solitude. Deciding what to do with a piece of land without consideration of the life that is already there is an action based on the concept that one could exist without consideration of others. Eliminating the weak and acquiring their assets is an action based on the concept that an individual can live without continued support of a community at any scale. The concept of solitude has become ingrained in many philosophies that guide the actions of modern humanity, even though solitude is not possible within a universe originating from multiplicity.

Even the common adage, “Everyone is born alone and everyone dies alone” implies that one can give birth to themself or pass away without interacting with even the parent who gave birth to them. If the idea that crossing a threshold is something that one may only experience without sharing it, then each step, each breath, and each accompanying action would be accomplished alone as well. Each moment from one to the next would be impossible to share. The concept of solitude itself is paradoxical. To exist to be among others. Your birth is shared with your mother at the very least, and is an experiential event common throughout the entire animal kingdom—be it birth from mammal or egg. Just as well, your death is shared by everyone you’ve interacted with throughout life and by those who remember you after your passing.

Paradoxes cannot exist in the real world, they can only exist in the mind, but from the mind they can influence the actions of the person who lives with that mind and those actions impact the real world. A paradox will collapse when applied to the real world. For the minds that hold onto those paradoxes, that collapse will be shared with them when it happens. This is what trends a population that is upholding these paradoxes towards extinction.

Here’s a simple exercise to try: This statement is false. Is it true or is it false? If it is one, it is also the other. However, it cannot logically be both. There is no answer. What is the solution? The paradox only exists while you are thinking about it. The solution is to let it go. Indeed this is the solution for every paradox. Let it go. Find a path without it.