Argumentum ad Hominemby Lucas Kjeldsen and Ethan Schwebel

Definition

Turning from the issue to the character involved

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http://www.vnews.com/home/14743696-95/state-defense-attorneys-duel

Examples In Contemporary Culture

Creepy Rob Lowe who has cable: if you have cable you are creepy.

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President Barack Obama vs. Sarah Palin

https://thespeechatimeforchoosing.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/obama-revenge.pnghttp://images.politico.com/global/2013/02/13/130213_sarah_palin_605_ap.jpg

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Obama dismisses Palin on nuclear strategy.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_zSBtx76B8

Analysis and Evaluation of Examples Argumentum ad Hominem can undoubtedly be seen in the examples previously used. The Creepy Rob Lowe DirecTV commercial attacks the people who choose to use cable, implying they are creepy. The commercial cunningly incorporates reasons why their company is better while also discouraging their competition. In the second example, Sarah Palin criticizes President Obama over his decision to restrict the United States use of nuclear weapons, using ad hominem when comparing his actions to those of a child on a playground. President Obama responds, commenting that Sarah Palin is, not much of an expert on nuclear issues. Both Sarah Palin and President Obama use ad hominem, attacking each other rather than the greater issue of nuclear strategy. In the Rob Lowe commercial, DirecTV compares a cable user to a creepy man, suggesting that if you have cable you are creepy, and encouraging people to choose DirecTV (non-creepy Rob Lowe). In the interview with President Obama, Sarah Palins attack on Obama and then Obamas subsequent attack on Sarah Palin succeed in diminishing the credibility of the other. Argumentum ad hominem is the personal attack of the person rather than the subject of controversy; both DirecTV and Obama/Palins use ad hominem, attacking the person rather than the issue, and ultimately not giving any credible information as to the product (DirecTV) or the issue (nuclear strategy).

Bibliography1. http://www.foolquest.com/fooltrek_faq/ad_hominem.htm2. http://www.catholic.com/blog/matt-fradd/responding-to-the-ad-hominem-

fallacy3. http://universityventures.com/publications.php?title=super-creepy-rob-lowe4. http://socialwebtactics.com/tag/creepy-rob-lowe/5. "Obama Dismisses Palin on Nuclear Strategy: "Sarah Palin's No Expert on

Nuclear Issues"" YouTube. YouTube, 8 Apr. 2010. Web. 19 Mar. 2015.6. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-

KY2yBO7qPao/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAC8/d9OimU025JY/photo.jpg