Outside-the-box story ideas

[Louanne Learning]

Got a weird idea that could spawn 100 different stories? Please share it here.

I’ll start with this idea – write a story with seemingly contradictions that are both true at the same time.

The philosophical basis of this - In his Metaphysics, Aristotle argues that the first job of philosophy is to address the most fundamental principles - the “common axioms” - used in reasoning.

He says that the most certain of all principles is the principle of non-contradiction (PNC): the principle that the same thing cannot both be and not be in the same respect at the same time.

I guess Aristotle did not know about Schrödinger's cat.

Anyway, a story that breaks the PNC would feature contradictions that are literally both true at once. (For example, Schrödinger's cat being simultaneously dead and alive.)

A storyteller could have a lot of fun with this. An imagination-stretcher. For example, any story where a character is both dead and alive at the same time (like Schrödinger's cat)

Here’s an idea based on this -

A man is put on trial for murder. Every piece of evidence seems to prove him both guilty and innocent.

What ideas come to your mind to break the PNC?

Also – if you have any other “outside-the-box-ideas” please share here!

 

[Pik]

Maybe having two witnesses with contradicting stories, but eventually it turns out one of them was under hypnosis and had their memory altered. And the other one was not fully right either? There's the third witness but he won't speak unless he is given identity change. The jury is losing faith in witness testimonies.

 

[Schism]

I charge a nickel and a bag of peanuts for every idea. Late-stage capitalism is a fickle mistress.