Ad Hominem

An ad hominem attacks a person's character, motives, or circumstances instead of addressing their reasoning. Personal information can feel persuasive even when it has no bearing on whether the claim is true. Sound evaluation separates the argument from the person presenting it.

Attacking the speaker instead of testing the claim.

What It Means

An ad hominem shifts attention from a claim to the character, motives, identity, or circumstances of the person making it.

A personal criticism may be true and still be irrelevant to whether the argument's evidence and reasoning are sound.

Common Signals

The speaker is insulted, mocked, or labelled instead of answered.
Past mistakes or personal traits are introduced without showing how they affect the claim.
A motive is treated as proof that the conclusion must be false.
The same argument would be judged differently if a more respected person presented it.

How to Respond

Ask which premise or piece of evidence the personal criticism is meant to refute.
Separate any relevant credibility issue from the logical merits of the claim.
Return to the evidence and evaluate it by the same standard regardless of the speaker.