paralogism

[pəˈræləˌdʒɪzəm]

paralogism Definition

a piece of illogical or fallacious reasoning, especially one that appears superficially logical or that the reasoner believes to be logical despite being invalid.

Using paralogism: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "paralogism" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    His argument was based on a paralogism.

  • Example

    The advertisement's paralogism was exposed by the consumer watchdog.

  • Example

    The politician's speech was full of paralogisms.

paralogism Synonyms and Antonyms

Phrases with paralogism

  • a type of error in reasoning that occurs when a conclusion is drawn from premises that are not logically valid

    Example

    The philosopher pointed out the formal paralogism in the argument.

  • a type of error in reasoning that occurs when the premises themselves are false or unsupported

    Example

    The material paralogism in the argument was exposed by the scientist.

  • a type of error in reasoning that occurs when a sentence is ambiguous and can be interpreted in multiple ways

    Example

    The paralogism of amphiboly in the statement led to confusion among the listeners.

Origins of paralogism

from Late Latin 'paralogismus', from Greek 'paralogismos', from 'paralogizesthai', meaning 'reason falsely'

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Summary: paralogism in Brief

A 'paralogism' [pəˈræləˌdʒɪzəm] is an instance of illogical or fallacious reasoning that appears to be logical or is believed to be logical despite being invalid. It is often used in formal contexts, such as philosophy and science, and can take different forms, such as formal and material paralogisms. Examples of paralogisms include flawed arguments in speeches, advertisements, and debates.