Argument Against the Person - Argumentum ad hominem

Argument Against the Person - Argumentum ad hominem The ad hominem fallacy is a class of fallacies which is not only common but also commonly misunderstood. Many people assume that any personal attack is an ad hominem argument, but that isnt true. Some attacks arent ad hominem fallacies, and some ad hominem fallacies arent clear insults. What the concept argument​ ad hominem means is argument to the man, although it is also translated as argument against the man. Instead of criticizing what a person says and the arguments they are offering, what we have instead is a criticism of where the arguments are coming from (the person). This is not necessarily relevant to the validity of what is said - thus, it is a Fallacy of Relevance. The general form this argument takes is: 1. There is something objectionable about person X. Therefore, person Xs claim is false. Types of Ad Hominem Fallacy This fallacy can be separated into five different types: Abusive ad hominem: The most common and well-known type of ad hominem fallacy is just a simple insult and is called the abusive ad hominem. It occurs when a person has given up attempting to persuade a person or an audience about the reasonableness of a position and is now resorting to mere personal attacks.Tu quoque (two wrongs dont make a right): An ad hominem fallacy which does not attack a person for random, unrelated things, but instead attacks them for some perceived fault in how they have presented their case is often called tu quoque, which means you too. It often occurs when a person is attacked for doing what they are arguing against.Circumstantial ad hominem: Dismissing an argument by attacking an entire class of people who presumably accept that argument is called the circumstantial ad hominem. The name is derived from the fact that it addresses the circumstances of those who hold the position in question.Genetic fallacy: Attacking the origins for the position someone is proposing instead of the person or the argument is called the genetic fallacy because it is based on the idea that the original source of an idea is a sound basis for evaluating its truth or reasonableness. Poisoning the well: A preemptive attack on a person which questions their character is called poisoning the well and is an attempt to make the target appear bad before they even have a chance to say anything. All of these different types of ad hominem argument are fairly similar and in some cases can appear almost identical. Because this category involves fallacies of relevance, the ad hominem argument is a fallacy when the comments are directed against some aspect about a person which is irrelevant to the topic at hand. Valid Ad Hominem Arguments It is important, however, to remember that an argumentum ad hominem is not always a fallacy! Not everything about a person is irrelevant to every possible topic or any possible argument that they might make. Sometimes it is entirely legitimate to bring up a persons expertise in some subject as a reason to be skeptical, and perhaps even dismissive, of their opinions about it. For example: 2. George is not a biologist and has no training in biology. Therefore, his opinions about what is or is not possible with regards to evolutionary biology do not have a lot of credibility. The above argument rests upon the assumption that, if a person is going to make credible assertions about what is or is not possible for evolutionary biology, then they really should have some training in biology - preferably a degree and perhaps some practical experience. Now, to be fair pointing out the lack of training or knowledge does not qualify as an automatic reason for declaring their opinion to be false. If nothing else, its at least possible that they have made a guess by random chance. When contrasted with the conclusions offered by a person who does have relevant training and knowledge, however, we have a sound basis for not accepting the first persons statements. This type of valid ad hominem argument is therefore in some ways the reverse of a valid appeal to authority argument.

7 Ways to Keep Your New Year’s Health Resolutions

7 Ways to Keep Your New Year’s Health Resolutions It’s a new year, and you’re raring to go on your shiny new (or renewed) resolutions. Deciding to get/stay/live healthy is an excellent goal. But if you want this to stick, it can’t just be a lifestyle change in your spare time. On average, we spend 40-50 hours at work per week- a huge chunk of time that can make or break your commitment to healthier living. 1. Jump around.Okay, maybe don’t actually do jumping jacks at your desk- unless you’re really sure your coworkers won’t mind- but there are ways to be active while you’re working. Studies show that people with desk jobs are at a higher risk for health issues like diabetes and heart disease. Being sedentary is the biggest enemy to your weight loss and fitness goals. Every hour, make sure you get up and take a brief walk, run small errands around the office, etc. The important thing is to get moving. It can be a challenge to get away from your desk some days, but it’s worth it. 2. Don’t skip lunch.No matter how busy a day is, try to set aside time to sit and eat lunch, instead of wolfing something down on the go. Being conscious about what (and how much) you’re eating can help you stay on track with any food-related goals.3. Brown bag it.Packing your lunch not only gives you more control over what you’re eating, but also saves money. The takeout struggle is real for me: I happen to work in a big city with a ton of fast food places and trucks camped out within a few blocks. This can be awesome for convenience, but it makes the takeout trap too easy. My solution is a rewards-based system: some of the money I save each week by making my own salads or bringing in leftovers goes into a personal slush fund, which I then use on movies or a small splurges. It seems a minor incentive, but it motivates me to take the 10 minutes each night to pack lunch for the next day.4. Take a hike.Literally! If you have some time left in your lunch break afte r eating, go outside and take a quick walk. In addition to the benefits of moving around (see #1), it can be a useful head-clearing exercise while you get a break from your inbox.5. Find some zen at your desk.Yoga Journal has some excellent tips for getting your yoga on at work. You don’t need any special yoga expertise to do these stretches. And while they’re not a high-impact cardio workout, yoga moves can help your body stay limber after that half-hour you spent hunched over your keyboard, replying to emails.Yoga is also great for stress relief as well. Stress can seriously undermine any fitness regime you’re trying to start or maintain, so getting a handle on it is a key part of building any healthy routine.6. Work in your workout.Think about your daily and weekly routines. Is there anywhere you can fit in some extra workout time? If, like me, you’re not a morning person and just can’t comprehend getting up at 5 a.m. to hit the gym. Maybe there ’s a spin class you can take immediately after work or you can spare an hour to go to the gym on your way home.If evenings are a no-go because you go straight from work to family or other obligations, you could stake out a few mornings per week where you can go to the gym before work. Building workout appointments into your existing schedule is the best way to stick to your new resolution. Otherwise, it gets too easy to put things off.7. Stand and deliver.Check with your company- are standing desks an option? As an alternative to sitting all day, standing while you work promotes blood flow and muscle tone. If you’re able to stay on your feet for extended periods of time, this might be an easy substitution to make for your regular chair.Implementing a new health and fitness routine can be daunting. It always sounds so great in theory, but then busy lives (and so many tasty temptations!) get in the way. It doesn’t have to be that way- and by making small, consiste nt changes to your work day, you’re that much closer to succeeding. This is the year we make it stick!This article is part of Bulk Up Your Career in 2017Â  campaign. Access the entire guide here to help you succeed in 2017.