sophisticus

Sophisticus is a term used in contemporary scholarship to describe a person or stance characterized by the strategic use of rhetoric to persuade, often independent of or even at odds with the underlying truth. In this sense, a sophisticus emphasizes argumentative skill and surface plausibility over demonstrable evidence.

Etymology: The word blends the Greek root sophistes (wise man, expert in rhetoric) with the Latin suffix -icus to form a Latinized descriptor. The term is not part of classical Greek vocabulary but has emerged in modern philosophy and rhetoric to label a certain set of argumentative practices.

Typical features attributed to a sophisticus include the deployment of rhetorical devices such as equivocation, red herring, appeal to authority, and selective use of data. A sophisticus may craft persuasive narratives, rely on audience biases, and frame questions to favor plausible conclusions rather than strictly valid ones.

Context and distinction: Sophisticus is used in discussions of sophistry, critical thinking, and the ethics of persuasion. It is often contrasted with the pursuit of truth or with deliberative reasoning aimed at sound inference. The term serves as a heuristic to critique arguments that are persuasive but potentially misleading.