casuistry

Plural: casuistries

Noun

• argumentation that is specious or excessively subtle and intended to be misleading
• moral philosophy based on the application of general ethical principles to resolve moral dilemmas
• The process of answering practical questions via interpretation of rules, or of cases that illustrate such rules, especially in ethics; case-based reasoning.
• A specious argument designed to defend an action or feeling.

Synonyms

casuistics, excuse, legalism, rationalization, sophistry

Related Words

casuist, casuistic, casuistical, casuistically, casuistics