From: John K Clark (jonkc@att.net)
Date: Wed May 07 2003 - 09:14:39 MDT
"gts" <gts_2000@yahoo.com>
>If the name-calling occurs in the context even of a valid argument, it is
>still, imo, appropriate to consider it ad hominem because of the additional
>*implied* argument.
If I were making a documentary about the Holocaust it is not inconceivable
that the word "monster" would creep in regarding my description of the
Nazis, perhaps the word "evil" too. If you object to this then it proves
that political correctness is not the exclusive domain of the far left.
>For example if I argue that you are wrong to believe in
>the Easter Bunny, and prove the implausibility of the Easter Bunny with
>valid argument A, and then also call you an idiot for believing in the
>Easter Bunny, my name-calling can be seen as an additional implied ad
>hominem argument
The implied argument is that the person has displayed such profound
stupidity that it would be a waste of time to pay attention to more sounds
he may make with his mouth, a perfectly valid bit of advice in my opinion.
Do you really disagree, do you really think the person was not an idiot? The
word has a meaning, there must be times when it is appropriate to use it and
if not then when? Or perhaps you think the word "idiot" should be expunged
from the English Language.
John K Clark jonkc@att.net
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Wed May 07 2003 - 09:26:30 MDT