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FALLACY

The violation of logical principle, disguised under the show of validity. It is a sophism and therefore, anything illogical that is also misleading. A fallacy implies both error and the element of more or less conscious deception in the presentation of proof or argumentation. (Etym. Latin fallere, to deceive.)

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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