Douglas Walton Ad Hominem Arguments ‘The University of Alabama Press TuscaloosaCopyright © 1998 “The University of Alabama Press ‘Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0380 Allsights reserved ‘Manufactured inthe United States of America ‘The paper on which this book is printed meets the minimum requirements of “American National Standard for Information Science-Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984, Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Walton, Douglas, 1942- ‘Ad hominem arguments / Douglas Walton p. em.— (Studies in shetoric and communication) Includes biographical seferences and index ISBN 978-0-8173-0922-0 (cloth: alk paper) ‘SBN 978-0-8173-5561-6 (pbk : alk. paper) 1. Ad hominem arguments. 2. Persuasion (Rhetoric) 3. Reasoning. I. Tite. TL. Serie, P301.5.P47 W347 1998, 808—dde2t 98-8989 For Karen, With LoveContents Preface xi Acknowledgments xix Chapter One: Classic Cases and Basic Concepts 1 . Abusive and Circumstantial 2 . The Smoking and Tree Hugger Cases. 6 ‘The Bias Ad Hominem 11 Poisoning the Well and Tu Quoque 14 Genetic Fallacy, Two Wrongs, and Guilt by Association 18 . Historical Origins of the Ad Hominem 21 ‘The Contemporary Ex Concessis View 28 ‘Actions, Circumstances, and Commitment 31 Person and Commitment 34 Conclusion 38 Chapter Two: The Textbook Treatment 44 ‘The Early Accounts 45 Growing Recognition of Nonfallacious Aspect 50 ‘Wild Variations 55 Elaboration of Subtypes 59 Justifying the View That It Is Fallacious 64 Fundamental Disagreements 69 Contents / vii