Aristotle begins his treatise on sophistical refutations by saying
That some reasonings are genuine, while others seem to be so but are not, is evident. This happens with arguments, as also elsewhere, through a certain likeness between the genuine and the sham. For physically some people are in a vigorous condition, while others merely seem to be so by blowing and rigging themselves out as the tribesmen do their victims for sacrifice.
Aristotle’s examples should always get careful consideration, for they always prove themselves to be chosen with extreme subtlety and care. Sophistical arguments are rightly compared to the dressed-up sacrificial victims of tribesmen, because like such victims they are only apparently worthy of the gods, they are offered by primitive minds in need of refinement; and whoever offers such arguments as reasonable will soon destroy reason altogether.
