Ad Hominem

By xiayuliang88 | Updated: Nov. 5, 2024, 12:18 a.m.

Slideshow Video

SHARE THE AWESOMENESS

Ad Hominem, or “attacking the person,” is a logical fallacy where one party attacks the character, background, or motives of the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument itself.

Education

create your own animated videos for free

_abc cc

* Powtoon is not liable for any 3rd party content used. It is the responsibility of each user to comply with 3rd party copyright laws.

Embed code

Select a size, the embed code changes based on your selection.

_abc Powtoon Transcript

What is Ad Hominem?
Ad Hominem, or “attacking the person,” is a logical fallacy where one party attacks the character, background, or motives of the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument itself.
Why It Matters
This fallacy diverts attention from the actual issue at hand, making discussions less productive and leading to misunderstandings.
?
?
?
In a recent political debate, Candidate A presented a climate policy, but instead of addressing the policy itself, Candidate B attacked A’s background, claiming that A doesn’t understand the “real struggles” of ordinary people. This type of attack shifts the focus from the policy to personal traits, which may not be relevant to the argument.
Example 1
Ad Hominem in News
“Here, Candidate B avoids discussing the climate policy by attacking Candidate A’s background. This misleads the audience and shifts their attention away from the real issue.”
A scientist published research supporting climate change. Instead of countering the research findings, critics accused the scientist of being “paid by environmental groups,” questioning the scientist’s motives rather than the validity of the data.
Example 2
Ad Hominem in Science
“In this case, instead of engaging with the research, opponents used an Ad Hominem attack, focusing on the scientist’s alleged bias to dismiss the findings.”
In superhero movies, villains often attack the hero’s motivations. For example, in Batman: The Dark Knight, characters criticize Batman’s motives, saying he’s only acting out of personal issues rather than addressing his actions to protect Gotham.
Example 3
Ad Hominem in Fiction 
“This fictional example shows how attacking a person’s motives, rather than their actions, is another form of Ad Hominem.”
Ad Hominem distracts audiences from the actual argument, leading them to judge the speaker rather than the issue at hand. This fallacy can impact decision-making by shifting focus to personal traits instead of factual evidence.
 Why Ad Hominem is Misleading
“Ad Hominem leads to misunderstandings and poor judgment by moving the focus from facts to personal attacks.”
Tips for identifying and avoiding Ad Hominem attacks, such as staying focused on the argument itself, using data to counter claims, and refraining from attacking the speaker personally.
How to Avoid Ad Hominem
 “Ad Hominem leads to misunderstandings and poor judgment by moving the focus from facts to personal attacks.”

A reminder of the importance of avoiding Ad Hominem fallacies in debates and discussions. Emphasize focusing on arguments, not personalities, for clearer, more constructive conversations.

Conclusion
“Ad Hominem leads to misunderstandings and poor judgment by moving the focus from facts to personal attacks.”
Batman Criticized for Personal Motivations in Pursuit of Justice. Batman: The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan, Warner Bros., 2008.

“Climate Scientist Accused of Bias Due to Funding Sources.” Scientific American, 15 July 2022, www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-scientist-accused-of-bias-due-to-funding-sources/.

"2020 Presidential Debate Highlights: How Personal Attacks Took the Spotlight." The New York Times, 30 Sept. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/09/30/us/politics/debate-highlights.html.
Works Cited

Ad Hominem

Copy this link to share with friends and colleagues:

WELCOME TO POWTOON!