Ad Hominem, Argument

AD HOMINEM, ARGUMENT. — A form of indirect argument by which one reaches a conclusion against an opponent by starting from his own assertions and principles (Aristotle, Analyt. pr., I, 23, 41 a 37 ff.). It should be noted that the a. h. argument (also otherwise called ex datis, ex concessis) takes no account of whether the principles admitted by the opponent are in themselves true or false. In the latter case, the argument, without claiming to arrive at a true conclusion, is limited to placing the opponent in contradiction with himself.