ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Bhartrhari's paradox

Okay, so have you ever tried to be quiet and not say anything? It's kind of hard, right? But what if you didn't even think any thoughts in your head? Is that even possible? That's what Bhartrhari's paradox is all about.

Bhartrhari was a really smart guy from a long time ago who thought a lot about language and how we use it. He came up with this paradox which is basically when you try to think about not thinking, it doesn't make sense because if you're thinking about it then you're actually thinking, right? It's like trying to catch your own shadow - you can't do it because it's always attached to you.

So, imagine someone tells you to stop thinking. You might try to imagine a blank space in your head or just focus on your breathing. But then you realize that even in order to do that, you have to think about not thinking. It's like a never-ending cycle!

Bhartrhari’s paradox has been a topic of debate for a long time, and people still argue about whether it actually makes sense or not. Some people think that it shows how language and thought are connected and that you can't really have one without the other. Others think it's just a silly word game.

So basically, Bhartrhari's paradox is a tricky puzzle that makes you think about thinking and how language works. It's kind of like trying to catch something that's always with you or trying to eat your own nose - it just doesn't work!