- specious, deceptive, or oversubtle reasoning, especially in questions of morality; fallacious or dishonest application of general principles; sophistry.
- the application of general ethical principles to particular cases of conscience or conduct.
- the resolution of particular moral dilemmas, esp those arising from conflicting general moral rules, by careful distinction of the cases to which these rules apply
- reasoning that is specious, misleading, or oversubtle
