Specious Argument (Noun)
Meaning
An argument that appears good at first view but is really fallacious.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The politician's claim that the new tax would only affect the wealthy was a specious argument, as it would ultimately lead to increased prices for consumers across all income levels.
- The salesman's statement that the vitamin supplement was scientifically proven to boost energy levels was a specious argument, as the study he cited was funded by the manufacturer.
- The company's claim that outsourcing jobs would allow them to invest more in research and development was a specious argument, as the actual motivation was to reduce labor costs.
- The blogger's argument that vaccination causes autism was a specious argument, as the alleged connection has been thoroughly debunked by numerous credible scientific studies.
- The pundit's claim that climate change is a natural fluctuation was a specious argument, as the overwhelming majority of experts in the field attribute the recent rise in temperatures to human activities.