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'''Sophistry''' (pronounced as SAH-fuh-stree) is an argument that has superficial appeal but is actually defective.
'''Sophistry''' (pronounced as SAH-fiss-tree) is a style of argumentation that has superficial appeal but is actually defective.
Examples:
Examples:
* "impose [[gun control]] to reduce crime"; in fact, guns prevent more crimes than they cause
* "impose [[gun control]] to reduce crime"; in fact, guns prevent more crimes than they cause
* "give the mother automatic custody of children in divorce to reduce divorce"; in fact, that leads to more divorce as it reduces incentives to maintain a marriage
* "give the mother automatic custody of children in divorce to reduce divorce"; in fact, that leads to more divorce as it reduces incentives to maintain a marriage
* "raise taxes to increase revenues"; in fact, creating disincentives to earn not only directly decreases revenues by decreasing the amount of taxable income but also stifles economic growth
* "give children contraceptives to reduce teen pregnancy and disease"; in fact, abstinence education does both better
* "support so-called 'civil rights' organizations and leaders to oppose racism"; in fact, they are the primary promoters of racism today
* "listen to the experts"; in fact, the [[Best of the Public]] may have insights that far surpass those of the experts
[[Category:Rhetoric]]
[[Category:Rhetoric]]
[[Category:Liberal Traits]]