contradictory reasoning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contradictory reasoning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing logic or arguments that contain inconsistencies or opposing conclusions. Example: "The author's contradictory reasoning undermines the credibility of their argument."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

For Lipps, analogical reasoning requires the contradictory undertaking of inferring another person's anger and sadness on the basis of my sadness and anger, yet to think of that sadness and anger simultaneously as something "absolutely different" from my anger and sadness.

SEP

The readings are full-length books that are dense and often appear circular and contradictory in their reasoning.

University of California, Berkeley

Fatigue loading frequency effect and interactions of damage mechanisms, creep & hysteretic heating in bonded polymer composite joint were studied due to the fact that many researchers came to contradictory conclusions and reasoning on this issue.

International Journal of Fatigue

Her reasons for doing so have never been satisfactorily explained, and she would offer multiple, contradictory accounts of her reasoning in later life.

Wikipedia

He described the choice facing voters as a "Morton's Fork" - a specious piece of reasoning in which contradictory arguments lead to the same (unpleasant) conclusion.

BBC

(F 42 treated at GP clinic) Yet much of the reasoning by patients was contradictory.

Health Research Policy and Systems

This is not, however, contradictory to our main line of reasoning, which points to modulatory influences on the perceptual/attentional system.

Brain Imaging and Behavior

So although policy makers have homed in on mothers' waged work, especially single mothers and mothers from low income families, and this forms part of standard economic reasoning about women's workforce participation, the evidence is contradictory.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

This requires, in particular a reconciliation between two contradictory characteristics--the apparent logical nature of reasoning and the statistical nature of learning.

Harvard University

The striving for moral coherence explains many seemingly contradictory patterns of judgment found in the moral reasoning literature, such as the general tendency for people to reverse engineer descriptive beliefs to fit desired prescriptive conclusions.

Current Opinion in Psychology

Ontologies focus on a qualitative description of the biomedical domain and are commonly represented in formal languages which facilitate automated discovery of contradictory statements and flexible access to knowledge through automated reasoning.

BMC Systems Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "contradictory reasoning", ensure that you clearly identify the specific points of contradiction within the argument or logic being discussed.

Common error

Avoid using "contradictory reasoning" as a blanket statement without specifying the nature and location of the contradiction. Being specific strengthens your critique.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contradictory reasoning" functions as a noun phrase, where "contradictory" is an adjective modifying the noun "reasoning". It describes a type of reasoning that contains opposing or inconsistent elements. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis reveals that "contradictory reasoning" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe illogical thought processes. Although examples are missing, Ludwig confirms its usability. It functions as a noun phrase and is employed to critique or describe arguments containing inconsistencies, making it most suitable for formal and scientific contexts. When using the phrase, it's best to specify the nature of the contradiction to avoid overgeneralization. Alternatives include "inconsistent logic" and "conflicting rationale".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

self-contradictory logic

Directly points out the presence of self-contradiction within the logical process.

inconsistent logic

Focuses on the lack of consistency within the reasoning process.

flawed logic

General term for imperfect or incorrect reasoning.

conflicting rationale

Emphasizes the presence of opposing justifications or underlying principles.

paradoxical argumentation

Highlights the self-contradictory nature of the argument.

fallacious reasoning

Points out the presence of logical fallacies in the reasoning.

self-refuting argument

Indicates that the argument undermines itself.

irrational justification

Highlights the lack of rationality in the justification.

untenable reasoning

Emphasizes the indefensibility of the reasoning process.

circular reasoning

Reasoning where the conclusion is also a premise.

FAQs

How can I identify "contradictory reasoning" in an argument?

Look for statements or premises that directly oppose or negate each other. If accepting one statement necessitates rejecting another within the same line of reasoning, it's likely "contradictory reasoning" is present.

What are some alternatives to "contradictory reasoning"?

Depending on the specific context, you could use phrases like "inconsistent logic", "conflicting rationale", or "fallacious reasoning".

Is "contradictory reasoning" always a sign of a flawed argument?

Yes, in formal logic, "contradictory reasoning" always indicates a flaw. However, in some rhetorical contexts, apparent contradictions may be used for emphasis or to provoke thought, though this doesn't make the reasoning valid.

What is the difference between "contradictory reasoning" and circular reasoning?

"Contradictory reasoning" involves statements that negate each other, while circular reasoning involves using the conclusion as a premise to support itself. Circular reasoning can be an example of "fallacious reasoning", but it's not necessarily contradictory.