Ad hominem

more desirable.

One of the most common informal fallacies is the ad hominem, or to the person in Latin, with several variations given its widespread application.

As its translation suggests, it focuses on the person rather than the argument they're similarly to the argument from authority we saw previously, however attempting to turn the argument invalid given the subject at hand.

A simple example would be, that person has arguments X and Y against the death penalty, but they're invalid since that person is condemned to the death penalty.

Of course, someone in that situation might be biased against the death penalty, but this fact does not by itself invalidate any arguments they may have regarding the topic.

A few variations to the ad hominem fallacy involve poisoning the well, or attempting to badmouth someone toward discrediting anything they say.

The genetic fallacy, where the origin of the speaker is criticized in order to invalidate their arguments.

And the circumstantial ad hominem, where indirect, incidental facts about the context of one's argumentation are used to try and invalidate their argument.

a face so rudely stamped by nature, so obviously destined to be nothing more than a common man, that it was a testament to German stupidity that he was ever elevated to the rank of great philosopher.

Of course, insulting someone's looks is called an ad hominem argument, attacking the man rather than his opinions.

And if you've ever been to a logic class, that's the first thing you learn.

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Absolutely.

Because it's very interesting to listen to Matt talk about that because a lot of times, as you know, I look at the comments and I sometimes take them to heart and people will say they resort to what I call an ad hominem fallacy.

An ad hominem argument is you don't argue against the argument, you argue against the man.

So you say, well, Garrigas is a criminal defense lawyer, so therefore I'm going to discount what he says.

Well, I'm going to turn that on its head.

Because there isn't that.

Understand part of what that is.

I mentioned the ad hominem.

Okay, I'm doing better.

Uh, Ad Hominem: How to Win Every Argument Without Having an Argument.

Yeah, that's not, that's pretty realistic.

I'll give you seven for that.