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Ad Hominem Or argumentum ad hominem. Definition Also known as, argument to the man, Ad Hominem is “…a general category of fallacies in which a claim or.

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Presentation on theme: "Ad Hominem Or argumentum ad hominem. Definition Also known as, argument to the man, Ad Hominem is “…a general category of fallacies in which a claim or."— Presentation transcript:

1 Ad Hominem Or argumentum ad hominem

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

3 Examples Person A makes claim X. Person A makes claim X. Person B makes an attack on claim X for a flaw. Person B makes an attack on claim X for a flaw. Therefore A's claim is completely false. Therefore A's claim is completely false. Bill: "I believe that abortion is morally wrong." Dave: "Of course you would say that, you're a priest." Bill: "What about the arguments I gave to support my position?" Dave: "Those don't count. Like I said, you're a priest, so you have to say that abortion is wrong. Further, you are just a lackey to the Pope, so I can't believe what you say." Bill: "I believe that abortion is morally wrong." Dave: "Of course you would say that, you're a priest." Bill: "What about the arguments I gave to support my position?" Dave: "Those don't count. Like I said, you're a priest, so you have to say that abortion is wrong. Further, you are just a lackey to the Pope, so I can't believe what you say."

4 Examples A prosecutor asks the judge to not admit the testimony of a burglar because burglars are not trustworthy. A prosecutor asks the judge to not admit the testimony of a burglar because burglars are not trustworthy. Francis Bacon's philosophy should be dismissed since Bacon was removed from his chancellorship for dishonesty. Francis Bacon's philosophy should be dismissed since Bacon was removed from his chancellorship for dishonesty.

5 How To Avoid this Fallacy Get more proof that the claim is wrong and then it wont be a fallacy. Get more proof that the claim is wrong and then it wont be a fallacy.

6 Guilt by association

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

8 Examples 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 group B. Therefore, source A is a member of group B.Also Source A makes claim P. Source A makes claim P. Group B make claims P and Q Group B make claims P and Q Therefore, Source A makes claim Q. Therefore, Source A makes claim Q.

9 Examples "You say the gap between the rich and poor is unacceptable, but communists also say this, and therefore you are a communist. Communists are unlikeable, and therefore everything they say is false, and therefore everything you say is false.“ "You say the gap between the rich and poor is unacceptable, but communists also say this, and therefore you are a communist. Communists are unlikeable, and therefore everything they say is false, and therefore everything you say is false.“ You say that Jamaicans smoke marijuana, Jamaicans are from the Caribbean. So all Caribbean people smoke marijuana. You say that Jamaicans smoke marijuana, Jamaicans are from the Caribbean. So all Caribbean people smoke marijuana.

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

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

12 Source Cited Hurley, Patrick (2000). A Concise Introduction to Logic, Seventh Edition. wadsworth, a division of Thompson Learning. pp. 125–128, 182. ISBN 0534520065. Hurley, Patrick (2000). A Concise Introduction to Logic, Seventh Edition. wadsworth, a division of Thompson Learning. pp. 125–128, 182. ISBN 0534520065. Hurley, PatrickwadsworthThompson LearningISBN 0534520065 Hurley, PatrickwadsworthThompson LearningISBN 0534520065 "Fallacy: Ad Hominem." Holocaust Educational Resource. 2009. 13 Apr. 2009. "Fallacy: Ad Hominem." Holocaust Educational Resource. 2009. 13 Apr. 2009. "Argumentum Ad Hominem." Philosophy Home Page. 13 Apr. 2009. "Argumentum Ad Hominem." Philosophy Home Page. 13 Apr. 2009.


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