Philosophy: ad hominem

Self-tutoring about philosophy: the tutor mentions the concept of ad hominem.

ad hominem: suggesting that a person’s argument doesn’t make sense based on something personal about them, rather than referencing their argument itself.

An example of ad hominem:

“She told me I should exercise if I want to lose weight. Why would I take her advice, given how fat she is!”

Ad hominem seems to be the way most people actually do form their opinions: if an attractive, popular, successful person says it, they believe it; otherwise, they don’t. The reason it’s a fallacy is that while people are fickle, the truth is less so.

Source:

txstate.edu