Casuistry is the use of clever arguments to persuade or trick people.
[formal, disapproval]
Synonyms: sophistry, chicanery, equivocation, speciousness More Synonyms of casuistry
casuistry in British English
(ˈkæzjʊɪstrɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ries
1. philosophy
the resolution of particular moral dilemmas, esp those arising from conflicting general moral rules, by careful distinction of the cases to which these rules apply
2.
reasoning that is specious, misleading, or oversubtle
casuistry in American English
(ˈkæʒuɪstri)
nounWord forms: pluralˈcasuistries
1.
the application of general principles of ethics to specific problems of right and wrong in conduct, in order to solve or clarify them
2.
subtle but misleading or false reasoning; sophistry, esp. about ethics
Word origin
casuist + -ry
Synonyms of 'casuistry'
sophistry, chicanery, equivocation, speciousness
More Synonyms of casuistry
(noun)
Definition
reasoning that is misleading or oversubtle
Every system of moral rules, laws, and principles gives rise to casuistry.
Synonyms
sophistry
a triumph of sophistry
chicanery
The trial revealed a world of crime, corruption and political chicanery.
equivocation
speciousness
sophism
oversubtleness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of chicanery
Definition
trickery or deception
The trial revealed a world of crime, corruption and political chicanery.