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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group
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To: geode00 who wrote (263205)5/1/2008 1:46:07 PM
From: TimF  Read Replies (2) of 281500
 
You apparently misunderstand the meaning of ad-hominem and why it is a problem.

Ad-hominem is when you say that an argument is invalid or in some sense wrong, or at least should be totally discounted, because of some quality about the person making it.

Personal attacks are just that attacks on a person.

They frequently go together with the quality mentioned being one that is presented as negative, even horrible, rather than just a source of bias. Where an insult of the person is given as the reason why you shouldn't pay attention to the argument or why the argument is wrong. This is called ad-hominem abusive. You also have ad-hominem circumstantial where someone's circumstance (their job, their family, their interests etc.) is given as a reason for not paying attention to their arguments (or for their arguments being wrong or invalid). For example if you dismiss an argument by a teacher for more pay for teachers, just because the person making the argument is a teacher. That doesn't include or imply an insult to teachers in general or to the specific teacher in question.

I'll give a few examples -

first a statement about his work, rather than a direct personal attack

"Krugman's writings show partisan political bias."

first a statement that IS an personal attack but is not an ad-hominem

"Krugman is a partisan hack".

Now a statement that is ad hominem, but isn't a personal attack (ad hominem circumstantial)

"Why should you pay any attention to Krugman when he says that economic research needs more funding. He's an economist, of course he would say that"

Now one that's both ad-hominem and a personal attack. (Ad-hominem abusive)

"No one should care about Krugman's arguments. He's a partisan hack who is so blinded by his bias that he would say anything if it supports his political agenda".
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