Ad Hominem
The Crucible
Stacie Tolliver
Sara Butler
Definition
• Ad Hominem is when a persons argument
attacks another persons character, personality,
job, home life, etc. rather than their actual
ideas or counter-argument. It is used to draw
away from a persons counterargument
through addressing something unrelated.
Generally when this fallacy is used, the
unrelated characteristic is undesirable, hence
causing the other person to look bad.
Universal Example
This is an example of Ad Hominem because in
the image it says if you “Shout Racist” that you
automatically win the argument. Shouting
racist would be entirely irrelevant to any real
argument in most cases so doing so would not
give you any real platform for defending or
refuting a claim. It would simply be used to
draw attention away from the real situation at
hand.
Universal Example
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_zSBtx76B
8 (skip to 36 sec.)
• This is an example of Ad hominem because rather
than creating a true counter-argument President
Obama simply responds with “Sarah Palin's not
much of an expert on nuclear issues.” He doesn’t
address his side of the argument, he only
insinuates that her reasoning is false because she
doesn’t know enough about nuclear issues.
The Crucible Example
• “I am not some preaching farmer with a book under my arm…”Parris (p.180) Act 1
• This is an example of Ad hominem because rather than Parris
attacking Proctor’s actual argument, he attacks his level of
education. He is insinuating that because Proctor is a farmer and
doesn’t have a degree from Harvard like he does, his reasoning's
and argument are invalid.
• “Do you read the Gospel, Mr. Proctor?”-Parris(p.211) Act 3
• This is yet another example of Ad Hominem because Parris is
addressing Proctor going to church rather than what they are
actually discussing. Proctor going to church is irrelevant in what
they are arguing over so Parris making a comment about it is simply
to make himself seem better.
The Crucible Example
• “They’ve come to overthrow the court, sir!”Parris(P.211) Act 3
• This is an example of Ad Hominem because before
John Proctor even has an opportunity to defend
Elizabeth, Parris is already stating that he has come
to overthrow the court. This is irrelevant in the
argument and is only being said to distract the court.
Works Cited
•
•
•
S. Morris Engel, with good reason: An Introduction to informal fallacies (fifth
edition) (St. Martins, P.94), pp. 206-209
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NT: Penguin, 199 6. Print.
“No Ad Hominem Attacks.”Cartoon. Americanbuilt.us. MaksminThePeoplesCube.com, n.d. Web. 18 April 2014.
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