> rhetoric of casually discounting the possibility Rhetoric: language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience. Casually: without def

> rhetoric of casually discounting the possibility Rhetoric: language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience. Casually: without definite or serious intention. From a logical standpoint, that sentence fragment is a representation of cognitive dissonance given it states there is and is not intent to impress (raise interest). I'd consider rephrasing it.