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fallacies

Posted by Lewis on October 15, 2004

In Reply to: About the question "What's the word or the phrase"? posted by Leslie on October 15, 2004

: Hi,

: Thank you very much for all of your answers. I wonder if I can use "misconception","myth", or "fallacy" to describe the idea I tried to express? The idea is that 'something seems to speak for itself, but there's something tricky or shaky if you have a close examination. Like some principles or doctrines that seem authentic and true, when you have thought them over, there may be some loopholes." Thank you once again.

: Leslie

I found a website about misleading arguments used when presenting a point. I couldn't find the page in my favourites - but it is there in cyberspace somewhere. I remember a book called "straight and crooked thinking" on the same lines.

I would suggest "fallacy" is the closest to what you describe, but I have heard the word "chimera" used for something that seems to be something and is not - an illusion or a mirage.

I particularly like the expression "smoke and mirrors" to describe something misleading.

L

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