Which informal fallacy is committed in the following statement: "Your argument…
2023
Which informal fallacy is committed in the following statement: "Your argument that I should stop stealing chocolates from the corner store is no good. You told me yourself just a month ago that you, too, stole chocolates when you were a kid."
Answer: D. Ad hominem — ConceptAn ad hominem fallacy shifts attention from the merits of a claim or argument to a personal feature, circumstance, or conduct of the person presenting…
- A.
Red Herring
- B.
Strawman
- C.
Missing the point (Ignoratio Elenchi)
- D.
Ad hominem
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept
An ad hominem fallacy shifts attention from the merits of a claim or argument to a personal feature, circumstance, or conduct of the person presenting it.
The tu quoque (“you too”) subtype rejects advice by alleging that the speaker does not follow the same advice.
Application
The advice is to stop stealing chocolates. The reply does not show that the advice is unsound; it points to the adviser’s childhood conduct and uses that inconsistency to dismiss the advice. This is the tu quoque subtype of ad hominem.
Contrast
Red herring introduces an irrelevant diversion, but this reply specifically attacks the adviser’s consistency.
Strawman misrepresents a claim before attacking it; the advice here is repeated accurately.
Missing the point draws a conclusion different from what the premises support; the distinctive move here is personal rebuttal.
Ad hominem treats a personal feature or conduct of the arguer as a reason to reject the argument.
Result
Therefore, the fallacy is ad hominem, specifically tu quoque.