Falsidical

Falsidical is an adjective used to denote something that is false or misleading, especially when it presents itself as true or sound. The word comes from the Latin falsus “false” and is commonly found in philosophical and logical discussion to describe appearances of correctness that are deceptive.

In logic, a falsidical argument is one that seems valid but is actually fallacious. The form of the argument gives the illusion of soundness, while an undisclosed premise or a hidden inference invalidates the conclusion. The label emphasizes the deceptive surface rather than merely being incorrect; an argument may be invalid in form or unsound due to false premises, yet still feel persuasive.

In epistemology and philosophy of perception, falsidical is used for perceptual experiences, memory reports, or beliefs that appear to accurately reflect the world but do not. A falsidical perception is one that seems veridical to the subject while misrepresenting reality; contrasting with veridical experiences, which align with facts.

The term is common in scholarly discussions of skepticism, justification, and the criteria for knowledge, and it is closely related to veridical, illusory, and misleading.