sophism
Clever false argument
A sophism is a clever but flawed argument—one that sounds persuasive but contains a logical fallacy or deliberate deception.
The term carries connotations of intellectual trickery: His defense of the policy was pure sophism.
Unlike a simple mistake in reasoning, sophism often implies the arguer knows the reasoning is faulty but deploys it anyway to win a point.
Error in reasoning
- speciousSuperficially plausible but flawed
- spuriousFalse though appearing genuine
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- equivocationAmbiguous language avoiding commitment
casuistry · quibble · subterfuge · chicanery · obfuscation · disingenuous · duplicity · guile
Systematic reasoning process
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- eloquencePersuasive verbal grace
- dialecticLogical argument through opposition
eristic · debate · discourse · polemic · demagoguery · forensics · logos · ethos
Relating to elenctic inquiry
- PlatoGreek philosopher, academy founder
- AristotleGreek founder of formal logic
- relativismContext-dependent truth doctrine
- pre-SocraticGreek thought before dialectics
dialectic · syllogism · reasoning · logic · epistemology · rhetoric · ancient · Greek
fallacy
Error in reasoning
- speciousSuperficially plausible but flawed
- spuriousFalse though appearing genuine
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
equivocation · casuistry · quibble · subterfuge · chicanery · obfuscation · disingenuous · duplicity · guile · prevarication
argumentation
Systematic reasoning process
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- eloquencePersuasive verbal grace
dialectic · eristic · debate · discourse · polemic · demagoguery · forensics · logos · ethos · pathos
Socratic
Relating to elenctic inquiry
- PlatoGreek philosopher, academy founder
- AristotleGreek founder of formal logic
- relativismContext-dependent truth doctrine
pre-Socratic · dialectic · syllogism · reasoning · logic · epistemology · rhetoric · ancient · Greek · Athenian
- Greek philosophyAristotle, Socrates, Plato, Pythagoras, Academy
- SophistsAntiphon, rhetoric, eristic
- Greek conceptslogos, ethos, pathos, hubris, arete
- logicpremise, premises, conclusion, conclusions, inference
- philosophiesempiricism, stoicism, nihilism, idealism, materialism
- ancient politicsAthenian democracy, polis, senate, archon, direct democracy
sophismlogical proof
Valid argument establishing truth
syllogism · valid argument · sound argument · demonstration · deduction
sophismdialectic
Logical argument through opposition
Socratic method · truth-seeking · candor · good faith argument · straightforwardness
sophismtruth
Accordance with reality
wisdom · insight · understanding · verity · enlightenment
sophisticated, philosophical, sophistry, unsophisticated, sophistication, sophisticate, philosophic, philosophically, sophist