Definition of sophism Sophism

soph•ism

We found 7 definitions of sophism from 7 different sources.

What does sophism mean?

Noun Plural: sophisms
sophism - a deliberately invalid argument displaying ingenuity in reasoning in the hope of deceiving someone
		sophistry, sophistication
		fallacy, false belief a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning

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sophism (Noun)
A flawed argument superficially correct in its reasoning, usually designed to deceive. An intentional fallacy.

sophism (n.)
The doctrine or mode of reasoning practiced by a sophist; hence, any fallacy designed to deceive.

sophism
A flawed argument superficially correct in its reasoning, usually designed to deceive. An intentional fallacy.

sophism
sof′izm, n. a specious fallacy..—n. Soph′ist, one of a class of public teachers of rhetoric, philosophy, &c. in Greece in the 5th century B.C.: a captious or fallacious reasoner—also Soph′ister (Shak.): a student at an English university in his second or third year, the students in these years being called junior and senior sophister respectively.—adjs. Sophis′tic, -al, pertaining to a sophist or to sophistry: fallaciously subtle.—adv. Sophis′tically.—n. Sophis′ticalness, the state or quality of being sophistical.—v.t. Sophis′ticāte, to render sophistical or unsound: to corrupt by mixture.—adj. Sophis′ticāted, adulterated: impure: not genuine.—ns. Sophisticā′tion, act of sophisticating, adulterating, or injuring by mixture; Sophis′ticātor, one who sophisticates or adulterates; Sophis′ticism, the philosophy or the methods of the sophists; Soph′istress, a she-sophist; Soph′istry, specious but fallacious reasoning. [Fr. sophisme—Gr. sophisma—sophizein, to make wise—sophos, wise.]

Sophism can mean two very different things. In Ancient Greece, the "sophists" were a group of teachers of philosophy and rhetoric. In the modern definition, a sophism is a confusing or illogical argument used for deceiving someone. The term "sophism" originated from Greek "sophistēs", meaning "wise-ist", one who "does" wisdom, one who makes a business out of wisdom ("sophós" means "wise man").

Protagoras is often said to be the first of the sophists. Others include Gorgias, Prodicus, Hippias, Thrasymachus, Lycophron, Callicles, Antiphon, and Cratylus.

Modern usage.

In modern usage, "sophism", "sophist", and "sophistry" are derogatory terms, due the influence of many philosophers in the past (sophism and platonism were enemy schools).

A "sophism" is means to deceive someone in a debate or conversation. It might be made to seem to make sense when really being wrong, or it might use difficult words and complicated sentences to intimidate the audience into agreeing. An argument Ad Hominem is an example of Sophistry.

A "sophist" is a someone who uses sophisms and "sophistry" means using lots of sophisms.