casuistry

[ kazh-oo-uh-stree ]

noun

, plural cas·u·ist·ries.

1. specious, deceptive, or oversubtle reasoning, especially in questions of morality; fallacious or dishonest application of general principles; sophistry.
2. the application of general ethical principles to particular cases of conscience or conduct.

casuistry

/ ˈkæzjʊɪstrɪ /

noun

1. philosophy the resolution of particular moral dilemmas, esp those arising from conflicting general moral rules, by careful distinction of the cases to which these rules apply
2. reasoning that is specious, misleading, or oversubtle

Word History and Origins

Origin of casuistry¹

First recorded in 1715–25; casuist + -ry

Example Sentences

While they will certainly provide the legal casuistry for their opinion, let’s not be played for fools: The Supreme Court’s impending repeal of Roe will be owed to more than judicial argumentation.

From New York Times

Hill's casuistry is all too common in memoirs written by or for statesmen seeking to sanitize their own blunders and lies.

From Salon

Johnson’s Tory fundamentalists, wrapped as they are in the casuistry of no deal, may be appalled by him talking to Corbyn.

From The Guardian

That brings me to the concept of casuistry: thinking about ethical problems by assessing a spectrum of cases to which they apply.

From Nature

Ironically, he cited the phrase “Jesuitical casuistry” in his argument, apparently unaware that he was employing it.

From Washington Post