3 ms·

if insults don't make an argument ad hominem, what does?

• barrkel 16y ago
  "He's an asshole, but he makes a good point." Not ad hominem, not trying to refute the argument, but still an insult. "He's an asshole, and his argument is crap." Not ad hominem, refuting the argument by mere assertion, and an insult. "He's an asshole, so his argument can't be taken seriously." Ad hominem - implying that some characteristic of the person makes his argument flawed; and an insult. "He just wants what's best for his daughter, so his argument can't be taken seriously." Ad hominem (implying bias); but not an insult.