Fallacy: Ad Hominem
Translated from Latin to English, "Ad Hominem" means "against the man" or
"against the person."
An Ad Hominem is a general category of fallacies in which a claim or argument
is rejected on the basis of some irrelevant fact about the author of or the
person presenting the claim or argument. Typically, this fallacy involves two
steps. First, an attack against the character of person making the claim, her
circumstances, or her actions is made (or the character, circumstances, or
actions of the person reporting the claim). Second, this attack is taken to be
evidence against the claim or argument the person in question is making (or
presenting). This type of "argument" has the following form:
- Person A makes claim X.
- Person B makes an attack on person A.
- Therefore A's claim is false.
The reason why an Ad Hominem (of any kind) is a fallacy is that the
character, circumstances, or actions of a person do not (in most cases) have a
bearing on the truth or falsity of the claim being made (or the quality of the
argument being made).
"How can you believe the theory of relativity -- Einstein
couldn't comb his hair?"
Insulting the opposing person making the opposing argument for
believing what they believe is just an insult. eg: Anybody who
believes in the theory of relativity probably can't tie their shoes.
- Bill: "I believe that abortion is morally wrong."
Dave: "Of course you
would say that, you're a priest."
Bill: "What about the arguments I gave
to support my position?"
Dave: "Those don't count. Like I said, you're a
priest, so you have to say that abortion is wrong. Further, you are just a
lackey to the Pope, so I can't believe what you say."
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