What term refers to plausible but fallacious argumentation?

The term "sophistry" refers to plausible but fallacious argumentation, which means that it involves arguments that may seem convincing at first glance but are actually misleading or deceptive. Sophistry often employs clever rhetoric and reasoning to create an appearance of truth, even when the underlying logic is flawed or the conclusions are false.

This concept can be important in various contexts, such as philosophy, debate, and critical thinking, where being able to identify such arguments can help individuals avoid being misled by seemingly valid points. Sophists were historically known for their abilities to argue both sides of an issue effectively, which is why the term has a connotation of trickery or manipulation in argumentation.

In contrast, other terms like fallacy refer more broadly to errors in reasoning, while consensus deals with general agreement among a group, and dialectic focuses on the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions. Thus, sophistry distinctly characterizes the specific type of misleading argumentation described in the question.