Ad hominem
Posted on: May 6, 2025 at 20:46:10 CT
TigerMatt STL
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Ad hominem fallacy (or ad hominem) is an attempt to discredit someone’s argument by personally attacking them. Instead of discussing the argument itself, criticism is directed toward the opponent’s character, which is irrelevant to the discussion.
Ad hominem fallacy example
Person 1: I think it is important to enforce minimum-wage legislation so that workers are not exploited.
Person 2: Nonsense. You only say that because you just can’t get a good job!
Ad hominem fallacy is often used as a diversion tactic to shift attention to an unrelated point like a person’s character or motives and avoid addressing the actual issue. It is common in both formal and informal contexts, ranging from political debates to online discussions.