From: gts (gts_2000@yahoo.com)
Date: Wed May 07 2003 - 23:39:48 MDT
Lee Corbin wrote:
> I liken the use of "idiot" to that of "shit!". It seems to be like an
expletive,
Except that "shit!" as an expletive is not name-calling. We're interested
here in the distinction between name-calling and ad hominem, if there is any
distinction.
In my example the passerby sees me spit on the sidewalk and then voices an
objection to my physically expressed opinion in favor of spitting on
sidewalks. He has an opportunity to object to my opinion about the subject
with a valid logical argument but he decides instead to object to my views
with an attack on my character. He looks me in the eye, points his finger at
me and says "Bum!" He then disappears into the fog never to be seen again.
Some might say that was simple "name-calling" and not ad hominem, but to me
it looks also like an implied ad hominem argument against my implied
argument in favor of spitting on sidewalks. Clearly he was disapproving of
my views about the social propriety of spitting on sidewalks, but he was
expressing his disapproval by attacking my character rather than by refuting
my views with a valid logical argument about the subject. That makes it ad
hominem.
I'm trying to think of a realistic example of simple name-calling that
cannot be seen as implied ad hominem.
-gts
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