Ad HominemAd Hominem

Or argumentum ad hominem

DefinitionDefinition

Also known as, argument to the Also known as, argument to the man, Ad Hominem is “…a general man, Ad Hominem is “…a general category of fallacies in which a claim category of fallacies in which a claim or argument is rejected on the basis or argument is rejected on the basis of some irrelevant fact about the of some irrelevant fact about the author of or the person presenting author of or the person presenting the claim or argument.”the claim or argument.”

ExamplesExamples Person A makes claim X. Person A makes claim X. Person B makes an attack on claim X for a Person B makes an attack on claim X for a

flaw. flaw. Therefore A's claim is completely false.Therefore A's claim is completely false. Bill: "I believe that abortion is morally wrong." Bill: "I believe that abortion is morally wrong."

Dave: "Of course you would say that, you're a Dave: "Of course you would say that, you're a priest." priest." Bill: "What about the arguments I gave to Bill: "What about the arguments I gave to support my position?" support my position?" Dave: "Those don't count. Like I said, you're a Dave: "Those don't count. Like I said, you're a priest, so you have to say that abortion is priest, so you have to say that abortion is wrong. Further, you are just a lackey to the wrong. Further, you are just a lackey to the Pope, so I can't believe what you say." Pope, so I can't believe what you say."

ExamplesExamples

A prosecutor asks the judge to not A prosecutor asks the judge to not admit the testimony of a burglar admit the testimony of a burglar because burglars are not because burglars are not trustworthy.trustworthy.

Francis Bacon's philosophy should Francis Bacon's philosophy should be dismissed since Bacon was be dismissed since Bacon was removed from his chancellorship for removed from his chancellorship for dishonesty. dishonesty.

How To Avoid this How To Avoid this FallacyFallacy

Get more proof that the claim is Get more proof that the claim is wrong and then it wont be a fallacy. wrong and then it wont be a fallacy.

Guilt by Guilt by associationassociation

DefinitionDefinition

Guilt by association can be Guilt by association can be described as, “…(an) argument described as, “…(an) argument (that) attacks a source because of (that) attacks a source because of the similarity between the views of the similarity between the views of someone making an argument and someone making an argument and other proponents of the argument.” other proponents of the argument.”

ExamplesExamples

• Source A makes claim P.Source A makes claim P.• Group B also make claim P.Group B also make claim P.• Therefore, source A is a member of Therefore, source A is a member of

group Bgroup B..

AlsoAlso• Source A makes claim P.Source A makes claim P.• Group B make claims P and QGroup B make claims P and Q• Therefore, Source A makes claim Q.Therefore, Source A makes claim Q.

ExamplesExamples

""You say the gap between the rich and You say the gap between the rich and poor is unacceptable, but communists also poor is unacceptable, but communists also say this, and therefore you are a say this, and therefore you are a communist. Communists are unlikeable, communist. Communists are unlikeable, and therefore everything they say is false, and therefore everything they say is false, and therefore everything you say is false.and therefore everything you say is false.““

You say that Jamaicans smoke marijuana, You say that Jamaicans smoke marijuana, Jamaicans are from the Caribbean. So all Jamaicans are from the Caribbean. So all Caribbean people smoke marijuana. Caribbean people smoke marijuana.

How To Avoid this How To Avoid this FallacyFallacy

Since these two fallacies are almost Since these two fallacies are almost exactly the same the have the same exactly the same the have the same solution. Get more proof that the solution. Get more proof that the claim is wrong and then it wont be a claim is wrong and then it wont be a fallacy. fallacy.

ActivityActivity

Have a class discuss on real life Have a class discuss on real life applications of the previous fallacies.applications of the previous fallacies.

Source CitedSource Cited Hurley, PatrickHurley, Patrick (2000). (2000). A Concise A Concise

Introduction to Logic, Seventh EditionIntroduction to Logic, Seventh Edition. . wadsworthwadsworth, a division of , a division of Thompson LearningThompson Learning. . pp. 125–128, 182. pp. 125–128, 182. ISBN 0534520065ISBN 0534520065. .

"Fallacy: Ad Hominem." "Fallacy: Ad Hominem." Holocaust Holocaust Educational ResourceEducational Resource. 2009. 13 Apr. 2009 . 2009. 13 Apr. 2009 <http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/ad-<http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/ad-hominem.html>.hominem.html>.

"Argumentum Ad Hominem." "Argumentum Ad Hominem." Philosophy Philosophy Home PageHome Page. 13 Apr. 2009 . 13 Apr. 2009 <http://philosophy.lander.edu/logic/person.ht<http://philosophy.lander.edu/logic/person.html>. ml>.