Fallacies

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Fallacy \Fal"la*cy\ (f[a^]l"l[.a]*s[y^]), n.; pl. {Fallacies}
     (f[a^]l"l[.a]*s[i^]z). [OE. fallace, fallas, deception, F.
     fallace, fr. L. fallacia, fr. fallax deceitful, deceptive,
     fr. fallere to deceive. See {Fail}.]
     1. Deceptive or false appearance; deceitfulness; that which
        misleads the eye or the mind; deception.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              Winning by conquest what the first man lost,
              By fallacy surprised.                 --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Logic) An argument, or apparent argument, which professes
        to be decisive of the matter at issue, while in reality it
        is not; a sophism.
  
     Syn: Deception; deceit; mistake.
  
     Usage: {Fallacy}, {Sophistry}. A fallacy is an argument which
            professes to be decisive, but in reality is not;
            sophistry is also false reasoning, but of so specious
            and subtle a kind as to render it difficult to expose
            its fallacy. Many fallacies are obvious, but the evil
            of sophistry lies in its consummate art. "Men are apt
            to suffer their minds to be misled by fallacies which
            gratify their passions. Many persons have obscured and
            confounded the nature of things by their wretched
            sophistry; though an act be never so sinful, they will
            strip it of its guilt." --South.
            [1913 Webster]