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Sophist vs Specious - What's the difference?

sophist | specious |

As a noun sophist

is one of a class of teachers of rhetoric, philosophy, and politics in ancient greece.

As an adjective specious is

seemingly well-reasoned, plausible or true, but actually fallacious.

sophist

Noun

(en noun)
  • One of a class of teachers of rhetoric, philosophy, and politics in ancient Greece.
  • A teacher who used plausible but fallacious reasoning.
  • One who is captious, fallacious, or deceptive in argument.
  • Usage notes

    * The meaning of "sophist" can vary depending on the time period to which one is referring. A sophist of the earliest period was a master in his art or craft who demonstrated (taught by example) his practical skill/learning in exchange for pay. Later sophists were providers of a well-rounded education intended to give pupils arete'' – "virtue, human excellence". By late antiquity, ''sophist?s'' / ''sophistes'' tended to denote exclusively a skilled public speaker and/or teacher of rhetoric.''Dictionary of Philosophy'', (ed.), Philosophical Library, 1962. ''See:'' "Sophists" by Max Fishler, p. 295." History of the name ‘Sophist’," ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' at ''www.britannica.com .

    Synonyms

    * logic chopper

    References

    specious

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Seemingly well-reasoned, plausible or true, but actually fallacious.
  • This idea that we must see through what we have started is specious , however good it may sound.
  • *1776 , Thomas Paine,
  • *:I have frequently amused myself both in public and private companies, with silently remarking, the specious errors of those who speak without reflecting.
  • Having an attractive appearance intended to generate a favorable response; deceptively attractive.
  • (obsolete) Beautiful, pleasing to look at.
  • Synonyms

    * fallacious, insincere * (with appearance intended to generate a favorable response) meretricious

    Derived terms

    * speciosity * speciously * speciousness

    Anagrams

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