aporia
|a-po-ri-a|
/əˈpɔːriə/
state of puzzlement / impasse
Etymology
'aporia' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'ἀπορία (aporia)', where 'a-' meant 'not, without' and 'poros' meant 'way, passage, resource'.
'aporia' passed into scholarly Latin and then into modern English through philosophical and rhetorical usage (adopted in English from the 19th–20th century in philosophical contexts).
Initially it meant 'lack of a way or resource' (a practical difficulty), but over time it evolved into meanings emphasizing rhetorical doubt, philosophical impasse, and deconstructive undecidability.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a rhetorical expression of doubt or puzzlement, often presented as if the speaker does not know what to say or how to proceed (sometimes used as a deliberate stylistic device).
In his speech he used an aporia to emphasize his uncertainty about the next step.
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Noun 2
in philosophy, a state of puzzlement or an impasse in inquiry — a paradox or problem that resists resolution.
The ancient text presents several aporiai that challenged later philosophers.
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Noun 3
in literary theory and deconstruction, an aporia is an irresolvable internal contradiction or undecidable point within a text or argument.
Derridean readings often focus on the aporia within canonical texts.
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Last updated: 2025/09/21 13:04