Definition of sophistry

sophistrynoun

sự ngụy biện

/ˈsɒfɪstri//ˈsɑːfɪstri/

The word "sophistry" has its roots in ancient Greece. A sophist was a professional teacher of rhetoric, philosophy, and politics in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE. The term "sophist" originally referred to individuals who taught argumentation, persuasion, and public speaking skills for a fee. While sophists were known for their cleverness and eloquence, they were also criticized for their alleged emphasis on rhetoric over ethics and moral principles. The term "sophistry" was later used to describe the use of fallacious arguments, deceitful language, and manipulative tactics to persuade or deceive others. In other words, "sophistry" refers to the practice of using clever but misleading or false reasoning to achieve a particular aim. Throughout history, the term has carried a negative connotation, implying a lack of sincerity, integrity, or intellectual honesty. Today, "sophistry" is used to describe a wide range of deceitful, manipulative, or misleading practices in various fields.

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the use of clever arguments to persuade people that something is true when it is really false

việc sử dụng những lập luận khéo léo để thuyết phục mọi người rằng điều gì đó là đúng khi nó thực sự sai

Example:
  • Convincing myself that I had gained in some way from my loss was just pure sophistry.

    Việc tự thuyết phục mình rằng tôi đã đạt được điều gì đó từ mất mát chỉ là ngụy biện.

a reason or an explanation that tries to show that something is true when it is really false

một lý do hoặc lời giải thích cố gắng chứng minh rằng điều gì đó là đúng khi nó thực sự sai

Example:
  • He was hostile to their hypocritical sophistries.

    Ông phản đối những lời ngụy biện đạo đức giả của họ.

Related words and phrases