“THE CRUCIBLE” FALLACIES: AD
HOMINEM/POISONING THE WELL
Trevor Robbins
DEFINITION
Ad Hominem attacks a person’s character rather than their reasoning.
In other words:
1. Person A makes claim X
2. Person B attacks person A
3. Therefore A’s claim is false.
UNIVERSAL EXAMPLES
“How can you argue your case for vegetarianism when you are enjoying your
steak?”
THE CRUCIBLE EXAMPLES
Ad Hominem- Abigail
Hale, grasping Abigail: “Abigail, it may be your cousin is dying. Did you call the
Devil last night?”
Abigail: “I never called him! Tituba, Tituba . . .” pg. 42
Fallacy: Abigail begins to worry because Hale uncovers the holes in her story.
She attacks Tituba, claiming that she had called the Devil which takes the
attention away from Abigail.
THE CRUCIBLE EXAMPLES
Ad Hominem- Proctor
Abigail, crying to Heaven: “Oh, Heavenly Father, take away this shadow!”
Proctor: “How do you call Heaven! Whore! Whore!” pg. 109
Fallacy: Abigail claims she’s being bewitched so, in an attempt to distract the
court’s proceedings, Proctor calls Abigail a “whore.” The shock of such a sin
works in Proctor’s favor.
WORKS CITED
"." <i></i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. &lt;https://criticalthinkingmc205.wikispaces.com/Fallacies+%26+Logic&gt;.
"Radio Free NJ." <i>:</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.
&lt;http://freenj.blogspot.com/2012/05/rfnjs-last-word-on-baselessracism.html&gt;.
"Ad Hominem - Definition and Examples | Literary Devices." <i>Literary
Devices</i>. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. &lt;http://literarydevices.net/adhominem/&gt;.