- #1
zoobyshoe
- 6,510
- 1,290
People ought to read what this actually consists of, because I've noticed people mistaking mere insults for Ad Hominems.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem
Calling someone an insulting or abusive name is not an Ad Hominem. Generally, an Ad Hominem is an attempt to discredit someone based on something about them that is actually unrelated to the issue at hand. These are Ad Hominems:
"Joe's political views are meaningless: he's an alcoholic."
"Don't let Sam correct your grammar, he believes in Ancient Aliens."
"It figures Thelma got sexually assaulted: she's been divorced twice and never goes to church."
These following are not Ad Hominems, just insults:
"Frank is a moron, and ugly on top of it."
"She is nuts."
"Edna is an ignorant hack."
"You'd have to be crazy not to like Ed Smith."
Therefore:
"You don't vote Republican? You're an idiot!"
Is not an Ad Hominem, just an insult. It might take place during the course of an argument, but it is not, itself, an argument of any sort.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem
Calling someone an insulting or abusive name is not an Ad Hominem. Generally, an Ad Hominem is an attempt to discredit someone based on something about them that is actually unrelated to the issue at hand. These are Ad Hominems:
"Joe's political views are meaningless: he's an alcoholic."
"Don't let Sam correct your grammar, he believes in Ancient Aliens."
"It figures Thelma got sexually assaulted: she's been divorced twice and never goes to church."
These following are not Ad Hominems, just insults:
"Frank is a moron, and ugly on top of it."
"She is nuts."
"Edna is an ignorant hack."
"You'd have to be crazy not to like Ed Smith."
...verbal abuse in the absence of an argument is neither ad hominem nor a fallacy.
Therefore:
"You don't vote Republican? You're an idiot!"
Is not an Ad Hominem, just an insult. It might take place during the course of an argument, but it is not, itself, an argument of any sort.