Ad Hominem Fallacy
By: Lucas Cook and Sydney Hyatt
Ad Hominem
• When an arguer attacks his or her
opponent instead of the opponent’s
argument.
“Fallacies.” Reading.UNC Writing Center. 2010. Web. 01 Feb. 2012.
"Ad Hominem." Comic strip. Dontletthelightsgoout.com. 2010. Web.
Universal Ad Hominem
On a radio program, a Jew called in and criticized Israel for
its treatment of Palestinians. Instead of the host of the
show addressing the issue that she was talking about,
he went straight to her and condemned her for being a
Jew.
Levin, Diane. "Argument-of-the-month." Mediation Channel | Talking about Mediation, Negotiation,
Conflict Resolution, and Law. Web. 15 Feb. 2012.
Fallacy Tracking: The Crucible
• Speaker: Proctor
• “I like it not that Mr. Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see
no light of God in that man.
– Act 2. Pg. 199
Proctor is not stating to Hale why only two of his
children are baptized; he is only explaining
how much he does not like Mr. Parris.
Fallacy Tracking: The Crucible
• Speaker: Cheever
• “He plow on Sunday, sir.”
– Act 3. Pg. 211.
The men are trying to find out why Proctor
doesn’t go to church and Cheever throws out
the illogical statement of Proctor plowing on
Sunday.
Fallacy Tracking: The Crucible
• Speaker: Proctor
• “How do you call Heaven! Whore! Whore!”
– Act 3. Pg. 220.
The townspeople are arguing about religion and
Proctor randomly throws out the fact that
Abigail is a whore to try to turn people against
Abigail.
Fallacy Tracking: The Crucible
• Speaker: Mary Warren
• “You’re the Devil’s man!”
– Act 3. Pg. 226.
Proctor is only trying to get the truth out of Mary
in court but Mary snaps back and screams
that he is a Devil’s man trying to turn
everyone else in the court against him.