A logical paradox refers to a statement or reasoning that leads to a self-contradictory or logically impossible conclusion. It is typically characterized by a situation where a statement affirms itself to be false or true, thereby creating a contradiction. The specific clue you provided, "This statement is false," is known as the liar paradox. It creates a paradox because if the statement is true, then it must be false, but if it is false, then it must be true. This loop of contradictory logic makes it impossible for the statement to be consistently interpreted as either true or false.
Note: The provided meaning of the answer is for the latest New York Times crossword puzzle clue: "This statement is false," for one. Explanations are generated by AI and may be inaccurate.