A
self-reference occurs when a statement
refers to itself. Reference is possible when there are two logical levels, a level and a meta-level. It is most commonly used in
mathematics,
philosophy,
computer programming, and
linguistics. Self-referential statements can lead to
paradoxes.
An example of a self-reference situation is the one of autopoïesis, as the logical organisation produces itself the physical structure which create itself.
- pentasyllabic (a word which describes itself)
- This statement is short.
- "Yields falsehood when preceded by its quotation," yields falsehood when preceded by its quotation. (This is a version of the liar paradox, an example of indirect self-reference leading to a paradox.)
- "See self-reference" in this article. This is also called a self-link. Sometimes this is done on purpose for technical reasons.