antinomy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a contradiction between two principles or conclusions that each appear reasonable or justified

   Kant's first antinomy sets the claim that the world had a beginning against the claim that it is eternal.

2. 2
   noun

   a conflict between laws, rules, or authorities

   The court had to resolve an antinomy between the two statutes.

Via Latin antinomia from Greek antinomia ("opposition in law"), built from anti- ("against") + nomos ("law, custom"). The older legal conflict-of-laws sense broadened in philosophy to apparently justified but contradictory conclusions.

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