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Old 06-11-2010, 01:56 PM
Ihealyou Ihealyou is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Qaedain [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]
No, ad hominem is any argument that includes insults and belittling.

The distinction you draw does not exist.
From wikipedia:
Quote:
Gratuitous verbal abuse or "name-calling" itself is not an argumentum ad hominem or a logical fallacy. The fallacy only occurs if personal attacks are employed instead of an argument to devalue an argument by attacking the speaker, not personal insults in the middle of an otherwise sound argument or insults that stand alone.
If I were to say that your point is wrong because your evidence is unsupported and by the way, you're an idiot, it wouldn't be an ad hominem because I still made a valid argument. On the other hand, if I were to say that your point is wrong because you are an idiot, it would be an ad hominem.
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