1. A state of puzzlement or doubt; a logical impasse or contradiction that seems impossible to resolve.
Usage: formal; often used in philosophy and rhetoric
2. In rhetoric and philosophy, a rhetorical device in which a speaker expresses doubt or perplexity, often for effect.
Usage: technical; literary

Examples

• The philosopher faced an aporia when trying to define justice in a way that satisfied all conditions.
• The student experienced aporia when confronted with two equally valid but contradictory arguments.
• The speaker used aporia to engage the audience, asking 'How can we know what is truly right?'
• Ancient Greek thinkers often encountered aporia in their investigations of fundamental concepts.
• The aporia at the heart of the debate left both sides unable to reach a definitive conclusion.
• By expressing aporia, the author invited readers to grapple with the same intellectual difficulty.