casuist
/'kæzjuist/
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who uses clever but unsound reasoning, especially on moral issues: A casuist is someone who engages in casuistry, applying ethical principles to particular cases of conscience or conduct, often with excessive subtlety or speciousness.
- A person who resolves questions of right and wrong by applying theoretical rules to specific instances: This often implies the use of oversubtle, evasive, or deceptive reasoning to justify a particular position.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The politician was accused of being a casuist for twisting the facts to defend the unjust policy.
- In the debate, he sounded more like a casuist than a principled philosopher, focusing on technicalities rather than core truths.
Advanced Usage
- "Casuistic reasoning": The method or practice of a casuist; reasoning that is overly subtle and intended to mislead or rationalize.
- His argument was dismissed as mere casuistic reasoning designed to obscure the ethical breach.
Variants and Related Words
- Casuistry (n): The use of clever but unsound reasoning, especially in relation to moral questions; the methods or principles of a casuist.
- Theologians have long debated the merits and dangers of casuistry.
- Casuistic (adj): Relating to or characteristic of casuistry or a casuist.
- His casuistic argument failed to convince the jury.
Synonyms
- Sophist: A person who uses clever but fallacious arguments.
- Quibbler: A person who argues about small, unimportant details or raises trivial objections.
- Rationalizer: One who attempts to explain or justify behavior with logical-sounding but often false reasons.
Antonyms
- Dogmatist: A person who lays down principles as incontrovertibly true.
- Absolutist: A person who holds absolute principles in political, philosophical, or ethical matters.
Related Phrases
- "Engage in casuistry": To practice or employ casuistic reasoning.
- He was not seeking truth but merely engaging in casuistry to win the argument.
Noun
-
someone whose reasoning is subtle and often specious
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ chứa "casuist"
