Sophistic: meaning, definitions and examples
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sophistic
[ səˈfɪstɪk ]
philosophical argument
Sophistic refers to a style of reasoning that is fallacious or deceptive, often used in argumentation. It is associated with the Sophists, a group of ancient Greek thinkers who were renowned for their skill in rhetoric and the art of persuasion. Sophistic arguments may appeal to emotion rather than logical coherence, making them persuasive but often flawed.
Synonyms
deceptive, fallacious, misleading, specious.
Examples of usage
- Her sophistic arguments seemed convincing at first.
- He employed a sophistic approach to sway the jury.
- The debate was full of sophistic reasoning.
- Many politicians use sophistic rhetoric to mislead voters.
Translations
Translations of the word "sophistic" in other languages:
🇵🇹 sofisticado
🇮🇳 सूक्ष्म
🇩🇪 sophistisch
🇮🇩 sophisticated
🇺🇦 софістичний
🇵🇱 sophistyczny
🇯🇵 洗練された
🇫🇷 sophistiqué
🇪🇸 sofisticado
🇹🇷 sofistike
🇰🇷 세련된
🇸🇦 متطور
🇨🇿 sofistikovaný
🇸🇰 sofistikovaný
🇨🇳 复杂的
🇸🇮 sofisticiran
🇮🇸 sofistikuð
🇰🇿 софистикалық
🇬🇪 სოფისტიკო
🇦🇿 sofistike
🇲🇽 sofisticado
Etymology
The term 'sophistic' derives from the Greek word 'sophistēs', which means 'wise person' or 'teacher'. In ancient Greece, Sophists were itinerant teachers who claimed to teach success in public life and were known for their ability to use rhetoric effectively. However, they gained a reputation for being morally dubious, using their skills to win arguments regardless of the truth. The term evolved over time, taking on a negative connotation associated with deceptive reasoning and dishonest argumentation, especially as philosophers like Socrates and Plato criticized the Sophists for prioritizing persuasion over genuine knowledge.