Ad Hominem fallacy again

From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Sun Mar 30 2003 - 10:09:43 MST

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    I can't believe that some Extropians still argue *for* the use of ad
    hominem. Ad hominem is one of the most common logical fallacies, and one of
    the least understood. As a logical fallacy, it is not just a rule about
    politeness. It is a logic error that can be proven to be false. Anybody
    arguing for ad hominem is arguing for false evidence and faulty logic, or
    doesn't know what ad hominem means.

    Ad hominem means "against the man" rather than against the argument. It
    claims that a person is 100% erroneous and can never make a correct
    statement ever. Simply by recognizing the person as 100% erroneous, we
    don't have to refute their statement because it is "known" in advance to be
    wrong. This is not acceptable "proof" or "debate" under any definition of
    these words.

    There are five types of ad hominem. I don't think any Extropians would
    argue for any of these:

    1. Abusive ad hominem is just an insult. Example: "You are a idiot, case
    closed."

    2. Tu Quoque ad hominem (meaning "you too") is using two wrongs to make a
    right. Example: "Don't blame me for misquoting sources because you have
    misquoted sources too!"

    3. Circumstantial ad hominem attacks the circumstances around other
    believers. Example: "Suicide bombers think they're right too, so you must
    be a terrorist."

    4. Genetic ad hominem attacks the source of a belief. Example:
    "Widespread healthcare originally derives from socialism."

    5. Poisoning the well is a pre-emptive attack before the argument is made.
    Example: "Don't trot out your tired old position again, like I know you
    will, because it never convinces anybody."

    That's it. That's ad hominem. Does anybody really want to argue that these
    are valid techniques for Extropians trying to determine the truth?

    --
    Harvey Newstrom, CISSP, IAM, GSEC
    <www.HarveyNewstrom.com>
    


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