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Yes, the "appeal to authority = fallacy" can be employed to shut down legitimate arguments, as well as the "ad hominem = fallacy". There is a great clarificatio
by FabHK 6y ago
Yes, the "appeal to authority = fallacy" can be employed to shut down legitimate arguments, as well as the "ad hominem = fallacy". There is a great clarification here:
"The ad hominem fallacy fallacy"
EDIT: debunking -> clarification
https://laurencetennant.com/bonds/adhominem.html https://laurencetennant.com/bonds/adhominem.html
- bena 6y agoThat doesn't debunk "ad hominem" as a fallacy, it just says that sometimes people accuse others of ad hominem when it doesn't apply.
- user-the-name 6y agoYes, people think "ad hominem" means "he insulted me so I win". "You are wrong because you are an idiot" is ad hominem. "You are wrong, and also an idiot" is not.
- FabHK 6y agoYou’re right, I’ve edited. It’s the abuse of crying “ad hominem” that’s the problem.
- darkerside 6y agoLogical fallacies should be part of a conversation, and shouldn't shut down anything. They are thinking tools, not debate weapons, although they can be used as such.
- koheripbal 6y agoIf someone is making an argument with obviously invalid logic, then I think it's reasonable to not continue the conversation if they are unwilling to present a logical argument.
- darkerside 6y agoIf you really on logic for everything, people are eventually going to walk away from you. Don't ask me to logically prove that because all I have is the anecdotal evidence of experience. Not every conversation is a scientific debate. If you want to learn, you should still participate in them.