The Paradox of Tiny Changes

Take one single grain of sand. That grain of sand does not constitute a heap of sand. Add one more grain of sand. You have two grains of sand. But, you still do not have a heap. Add one more grain of sand. No heap still. An additional grain of sand makes no difference either. And yet, eventually, a heap appears.

This is a variation of the Sorites paradox (also known as the paradox of the heap). The paradox is one of the paradoxes invented by Eubulides, a Greek philosopher of the 4th century BCE. The paradox offers an example of how tiny, unnoticeable changes may lead to something of significance. This paradox is a useful concept to keep in mind as we work towards establishing a habit or resolve to attain a big goal.

Here’s another variation of the paradox, according to Wikipedia:

“A single grain of sand is certainly not a heap. Nor is the addition of a single grain of sand enough to transform a non-heap into a heap: when we have a collection of grains of sand that is not a heap, then adding but one single grain will not create a heap. And yet we know that at some point we will have a heap.”