ad hominem

The Latin locution ad hominem It translates as "to the person". It is usually used in our idiom for the construction of the expression ad hominem argument.

An ad hominem argument is one supported by the actions or opinions from the same individual to whom it is addressed, with the aim of persuading or confronting him. It is, therefore, an argument that points to the interlocutor's bewilderment by opposing his own actions or his sayings.

Many times the ad hominem argument is directed directly against the subject. By pointing out an unwanted, questionable or undervalued characteristic of yours, an attempt is made to discredit your thesis.

It can be said that the ad hominem argument, in this framework, does not attack the sayings of the other, but directly to the person. Your educational level or your social class, to mention two possibilities, may be enough to vilify your position.

Thus the ad hominem argument can adopt the following structure:

- Juan holds TO
- There is a characteristic, quality or property of Juan that can be questioned.
- Therefore, TO it is questionable.

Of course, the eventual discredit of the speaker does not indicate anything about the truth or falsity of his expressions. That is why it is often pointed out that the ad hominem argument is a fallacy.

Suppose a sports journalist states that a soccer player played a bad game. Faced with this comment, a ex player rejects the opinion, noting that the journalist he was never a professional athlete. As you can see, this is a ad hominem argument: The fact that the journalist was not a professional footballer does not discredit his affirmation.