Ad Hominem

Planted 02021-12-27

Short for argumentum ad hominem—argument against the person.

• LW: Fallacies
• Effectiviology: Logical Fallacies: What They Are and How to Counter Them
• Wikipedia: Ad hominem
• RationalWiki: Argumentum ad hominem
• Effectiviology: Ad Hominem: When People Use Personal Attacks in Arguments
• Paul Graham: How to Disagree
• LW: Counterspells
• LW: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Ad Hominem

Paul Graham’s Hierarchy of Disagreement, from How to Disagree:

1. “You’re an idiot” (Name calling)
2. “Of course he would say that. He’s a senator.” (Ad Hominem)
3. “I can’t believe the author dismisses intelligent design in such a cavalier fashion.” (Responding to Tone)
4. “I can’t believe the author dismisses intelligent design in such a cavalier fashion. Intelligent design is a legitimate scientific theory.” (Contradiction)
5. Counterargument
6. Refutation
7. Refuting the Central Point

Insulting one’s character is a common example of a fallacious ad hominem—only when used in place of a genuine argument.