Ignoratio Elenchi

Definition: Ignoratio Elenchi

Ignoratio Elenchi

Noun

1. The logical fallacy of supposing that an argument proving an irrelevant point has proved the point at issue.

Synonyms within Context: Ignoratio Elenchi

Context	Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).
Reasoning,	False reasoning, vicious reasoning, circular reasoning; petitio principii, ignoratio elenchi; post hoc ergo propter hoc; non sequitur, ignotum per ignotius.
Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

Specialty Definition: Ignoratio elenchi

Ignoratio elenchi (which can be roughly translated by ignoring the issue; also known as "irrelevant conclusion") is the logical fallacy of presenting an argument that may of itself be valid, but which proves a different proposition than the one it is supposed to prove.

For example, the prosecutor in a criminal court might argue how bad the crime is that has been committed, but if this argument is taken as an argument to convict the suspect, it is a case of ignoratio elenchi--it does not prove what it should prove, namely that the suspect is the one who committed it.

External link: Stephen's Guide: Irrelevant Conclusion

Anagrams: Ignoratio Elenchi

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams
	Words within the letters "a-c-e-e-g-h-i-i-i-l-n-n-o-o-r-t"
	-4 letters: antireligion, chlorinating, chlorination, cogeneration.
	-5 letters: antiheroine, atherogenic, cognitional, congelation, crenelation, geanticline, granolithic, heterogonic, inheritance, interchange, interlacing, intolerance, legionnaire, oligochaete, origination, recognition.
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