Sophistical: meaning, definitions and examples
🤔
sophistical
[ səˈfɪstɪkəl ]
philosophical argument
Sophistical refers to a type of reasoning that is misleading or deceptive, often used in arguments to confuse or mislead rather than to clarify or resolve issues. It stems from the teachings of sophists in ancient Greece, who were skilled in the art of rhetoric and often employed fallacies in their arguments to appear persuasive.
Synonyms
deceptive, erroneous, fallacious, misleading, specious.
Examples of usage
- The debate became increasingly sophistical as both sides made convoluted arguments.
- Her sophistical reasoning failed to convince the jury.
- He used sophistical logic to challenge the evidence presented.
- The article was criticized for its sophistical approach to the topic.
Translations
Translations of the word "sophistical" in other languages:
🇵🇹 sofístico
🇮🇳 सूक्ष्मतावादी
🇩🇪 sophistisch
🇮🇩 sofistik
🇺🇦 софістичний
🇵🇱 sofistyczny
🇯🇵 ソフィスティックな
🇫🇷 sophistique
🇪🇸 sofístico
🇹🇷 sofistike
🇰🇷 소피스틱한
🇸🇦 سوفستيكي
🇨🇿 sofistický
🇸🇰 sofistický
🇨🇳 诡辩的
🇸🇮 sofističen
🇮🇸 sofistískur
🇰🇿 софистикалық
🇬🇪 სოფისტიკური
🇦🇿 sofistik
🇲🇽 sofístico
Etymology
The term 'sophistical' derives from the Greek word 'sophistes', which means 'wise person' or 'expert'. In ancient Greece, sophists were itinerant teachers who offered education in various subjects, particularly rhetoric, philosophy, and public speaking. While they contributed to the development of critical thought and argumentative skills, they were often criticized by philosophers like Plato for their reliance on persuasion over truth. Over time, the term took on a negative connotation, characterizing arguments that may be clever but lack sincerity or ethical grounding. This historical context highlights the evolution of the term from its original meaning of expertise to its current association with misleading forms of reasoning.