"An *ad hominem* argument, also known as
*argumentum ad hominem*
(
Latin<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin>in>,
literally "argument [aimed] at the person", but usually translated as
"argument to the man"), is a logical
fallacy<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_fallacy>that involves
replying to an argument or assertion by addressing the person
presenting the argument or assertion rather than the argument itself or an
argument pointing out an inconsistency between a view expressed by an
individual and the remainder of his or her beliefs."
Ad hominem is definitely a logical fallacy, but the way that's phrased
isn't quite right. I wouldn't call it POV simply for being inaccurate
though. It only needs to be clarified to add that it's ad hominem iff
the personal attack is used as a basis for the argument, rather than
something in addition to/aside from it.
For example:
The teacher gave us a difficult exam! We shouldn't have to be subjected to
such stress under the course of our education.
It may be that it was uncomfortable, but that does not mean that
uncomfortable things should always be avoided. Wishful thinking
underlies appeals
to emotion <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_emotion>, and is a red
herring <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_herring_%28fallacy%29>.
[...]
I would like to mention that I don't agree that "we shouldn't have to be
subjected to such stress under the course of our education," but I certainly
know some who do.
You're misunderstanding the example. Whether or not someone's
argument is fallacious does not indicate whether or not their
conclusion is invalid. Fallacies only deal with the method of
argumentation being wrong, not with whether or not the conclusion
reached by it is wrong.
In that example, the person is saying that because it is
uncomfortable, it is bad. That is wrong because something being
uncomfortable is not necessarily bad. The comfort level of the thing
in question has nothing to do with the relative effectiveness of that
thing (as compared to other methods) in achieving that goal, thus it
only acts as an appeal to emotion to mention it.
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Nathan J. Yoder
http://www.gummibears.nu/
http://www.gummibears.nu/files/njyoder_pgp.key
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