What Is the Ad Hominem Fallacy? Give an Example, Other

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Examlex · Accepted Answer

The Answer is The ad hominem fallacy is a logical fallacy that occurs when someone attacks the character, motive, or other attribute of the person making an argument rather than addressing the substance of the argument itself. The term "ad hominem" is Latin for "to the person." This fallacy is used to undermine the opponent's position by attacking the individual, thus diverting the discussion away from the actual issues at hand.

An example of the ad hominem fallacy that is not commonly discussed in textbooks might be as follows:

During a debate on environmental policy, Speaker A argues that the government should invest more in renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions. Speaker B responds by saying, "Speaker A drives a large SUV and frequently flies in private jets, so his argument for reducing carbon emissions is not credible."

In this example, Speaker B does not address the merits of Speaker A's argument for renewable energy investment. Instead, Speaker B attacks Speaker A's personal choices regarding transportation, implying that these choices invalidate Speaker A's argument. This is an ad hominem attack because it focuses on Speaker A's character and personal behavior rather than the argument for renewable energy investment. The fact that Speaker A may not perfectly practice what he advocates does not inherently negate the validity of his argument for renewable energy policy.

What Is the Ad Hominem Fallacy? Give an Example, Other

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