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casuistry (KAHZ-oo-uh-stree) - n., the resolving of a specific case of conduct through interpretation of ethical principles, religious doctrine, or law; specious or oversubtle reasoning esp. in questions of morality, fallacious or dishonest application of general principles, sophistry.
The first sense is the neutral technical sense, the second is the pejorative general sense. Which is the more common seems to depend on whether you ask a philosopher or a lexicographer. At its root is the case -- a working out how the rules apply to this particular case, rather than going in the other direction and elucidating what the general rules are. Coined around 1725 from casuist, one who does this, which was borrowed around 1600 (either directly or through French casuiste) from Spanish casuista, derived from Latin cāsus, case.
---L.
The first sense is the neutral technical sense, the second is the pejorative general sense. Which is the more common seems to depend on whether you ask a philosopher or a lexicographer. At its root is the case -- a working out how the rules apply to this particular case, rather than going in the other direction and elucidating what the general rules are. Coined around 1725 from casuist, one who does this, which was borrowed around 1600 (either directly or through French casuiste) from Spanish casuista, derived from Latin cāsus, case.
---L.
