Ad hominem
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| − | [[Ad hominem]] fallacies involve attacking the person rather than the argument. | + | [[Ad hominem]] fallacies involve attacking the person rather than the argument, e.g., by casting aspersions on that person's character, or associating the person with a distasteful ideology. |
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| + | This is a logical fallacy because the fact that a person is repugnant does not mean that they are wrong. | ||
==Examples== | ==Examples== | ||
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* Elizabeth is a convicted drug user | * Elizabeth is a convicted drug user | ||
* Therefore Elizabeth's claims aren't trustworthy | * Therefore Elizabeth's claims aren't trustworthy | ||
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| + | * Bob says that the sky is blue. | ||
| + | * Bob is a communist, and cannot be trusted. | ||
| + | * Therefore, the sky is not blue. | ||
[[Category: Logical fallacies]] | [[Category: Logical fallacies]] | ||
Revision as of 16:22, 18 July 2006
Ad hominem fallacies involve attacking the person rather than the argument, e.g., by casting aspersions on that person's character, or associating the person with a distasteful ideology.This is a logical fallacy because the fact that a person is repugnant does not mean that they are wrong.
Examples
- Elizabeth claims that John murdered Sally
- Elizabeth is a convicted drug user
- Therefore Elizabeth's claims aren't trustworthy
- Bob says that the sky is blue.
- Bob is a communist, and cannot be trusted.
- Therefore, the sky is not blue.
