Ad hominem

Ad hominem (Latin for "to the person"), short for argumentum ad hominem, is a term that originates from the field of logic and rhetoric. It refers to a type of argument that instead of addressing the actual issue at hand, attacks the character, motive, or other attribute of the person making the argument, or persons associated with the argument, rather than attacking the substance of the argument itself.

Definition and Examples

The ad hominem argument is a logical fallacy that involves a personal attack: an argument based on the perceived failings of an adversary rather than on the merits of the case. For example, "You can't believe John's argument for the theory of evolution, he is an atheist."

There are three major forms of ad hominem arguments:

• Abusive ad hominem usually involves attacking the traits of an opponent as a means to invalidate their arguments.
• Circumstantial ad hominem points out that someone is in circumstances such that they are disposed to take a particular position.
• Tu quoque (Latin for "you also") argument points out that a person does not practise what they preach.

Criticism and Defense

Ad hominem arguments are often used in discussions when emotions run high and logical arguments are ignored. They are generally seen as a breakdown in civil discourse, and are considered fallacious when the attack is not directly related to the argument.

However, some argue that ad hominem arguments can be valid and relevant when the attack goes to the credibility of a speaker or source, such as questioning a claim because it is made by a person who stands to benefit from it being accepted.

See Also

• Logical fallacy
• Rhetoric
• Argumentation theory
• Critical thinking