Which fallacy attacks the person making the argument rather than addressing the argument itself?

Which fallacy attacks the person making the argument rather than addressing the argument itself?

• A. Ad hominem
• B. Ad antiquitatem
• C. Post hoc
• D. Logos

Answer: (A)

This question tests recognizing a fallacy that sidesteps the argument and goes after the person making it. An ad hominem targets the speaker rather than addressing the actual reasons or evidence offered, aiming to undermine credibility rather than evaluate the argument itself. For example, saying a claim isn’t trustworthy because the speaker has a certain bias or background attacks who is presenting the idea instead of examining whether the claim's reasoning and data hold up. In contrast, ad antiquitatem appeals to tradition as the proof of truth, post hoc claims a later event was caused by an earlier one simply because of sequence, and logos refers to reasoning and evidence used to support an argument. So the statement described is the ad hominem fallacy.

This question tests recognizing a fallacy that sidesteps the argument and goes after the person making it. An ad hominem targets the speaker rather than addressing the actual reasons or evidence offered, aiming to undermine credibility rather than evaluate the argument itself. For example, saying a claim isn’t trustworthy because the speaker has a certain bias or background attacks who is presenting the idea instead of examining whether the claim's reasoning and data hold up. In contrast, ad antiquitatem appeals to tradition as the proof of truth, post hoc claims a later event was caused by an earlier one simply because of sequence, and logos refers to reasoning and evidence used to support an argument. So the statement described is the ad hominem fallacy.