casuistry
Case-based moral reasoning
Casuistry is reasoning that applies general moral principles to specific cases, especially in ethics and theology.
The term often carries a negative connotation—suggesting clever but misleading argumentation that twists principles to justify questionable conclusions: His defense of the policy was pure casuistry.
A casuist engages in such reasoning, whether rigorously or deceptively.
Ambiguous language avoiding commitment
- speciousSuperficially plausible but flawed
- spuriousFalse though appearing genuine
- quibbleTrivial objection raised
- sophismMisleading logical trickery
hairsplitting · chicanery · jesuitical · legalistic · tortuous · slippery · cunning · artful
Internal moral sense
- scruplesMoral reservations about acting
- situational ethicsMorality contingent on context
- applied ethicsMorality for real situations
- moral reasoningEvaluating right and wrong
ethical dilemmas · moral philosophy · normative · bioethics · medical ethics · confessional · pastoral · dispensation
Drawing logical conclusions
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- dialecticLogical argument through opposition
- syllogismFormal deductive argument structure
- premiseFoundation for logical argument
conclusion · inference · deduction · analysis · interpretation · proposition · distinction · qualification
Misleading speech avoiding directness
- obfuscationDeliberate concealment through confusion
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
hedging · fudging · deflection · circumlocution · weaseling · hair-splitting · fine distinctions · special pleading
State of perplexity
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- moral conflictClash of competing values
- competing valuesMutually opposed principles
gray area · trolley problem · lesser evil · mitigating factors · extenuating circumstances
equivocation
Ambiguous language avoiding commitment
- speciousSuperficially plausible but flawed
- spuriousFalse though appearing genuine
- quibbleTrivial objection raised
sophism · hairsplitting · chicanery · jesuitical · legalistic · tortuous · slippery · cunning · artful · wily
conscience
Internal moral sense
- scruplesMoral reservations about acting
- situational ethicsMorality contingent on context
- applied ethicsMorality for real situations
moral reasoning · ethical dilemmas · moral philosophy · normative · bioethics · medical ethics · confessional · pastoral · dispensation · moral law
reasoning
Drawing logical conclusions
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- dialecticLogical argument through opposition
- syllogismFormal deductive argument structure
premise · conclusion · inference · deduction · analysis · interpretation · proposition · distinction · qualification · counterargument
prevarication
Misleading speech avoiding directness
- obfuscationDeliberate concealment through confusion
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
avoidance · hedging · fudging · deflection · circumlocution · weaseling · hair-splitting · fine distinctions · special pleading · moving goalposts
quandary
State of perplexity
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- moral conflictClash of competing values
competing values · gray area · trolley problem · lesser evil · mitigating factors · extenuating circumstances
- Ethics Termsmoral reasoning, moral philosophy, meta-ethics, teleology, utilitarianism
- religious ethicsChristian ethics, divine command, moral law, divine law, love thy neighbor
- moral theologyconscience, mortal sin, venial sin, natural law, moral law
- Talmudicsoral law, halakhah, sugya, seder, Sanhedrin
- argumentsargument, arguing, disagreement, bickering, dispute
- deceptionslie, lies, lying, deceit, decoy
casuistrydeontology
Morality based on obligations
legalism · dogmatism · categorical imperative · black-and-white thinking · absolutism
casuistrystraightforwardness
Quality of being direct
candor · intellectual honesty · plain dealing · genuineness · directness