Meaning of argumenta ad hominem | Babel Free

Definitions

Noun. [C1]

Examples

“The only hope⟳ of meeting this objection is to show⟳ not only that valid argumenta ad hominem are possible as well as invalid ones, but also that a valid argumentum ad hominem can properly be used to attack a philosophical view⟳ as well as to discredit the testimony of those who advocate the view⟳.”

“The evidence is lacking to decide⟳ between alternative explanations and in any case these are argumenta ad hominem which should not be used in scientific discussion; the facts are the only things that matter⟳, and on those grounds there is no doubt⟳ that the hereditarians were largely in the wrong in what they asserted.”

“^({1})The respective statements are packaged differently, as direct⟳ accusations or insinuations, as topoi of threats (argumenta ad baculum or argumenta ad hominem) and occur⟳ in many contexts, especially in semi-public ones, i.e. in interviews or in TV discussions just as in the memorial vigil (see⟳ below). ^({2})Greed, dishonesty and vindictiveness constitute the content prejudices appearing in this context, not least in the linguistic form⟳ of fallacious argumenta ad hominem.”

“In reality, such argumenta ad hominem are designed to show⟳ that, therefore, the nature of the thing in question⟳ is so evident that its evident traits are also recognized by the opponent, at least when some clear instances of the disputed datum are brought up; and that therefore the recognition of the true nature of the thing in question⟳ by the opponent himself leads to an inconsistency with the false elements in his position.”

CEFR level