Though Americans are sometimes perceived as idealistic, there are other strains in our character that demagogues can tap into, such as cynicism about politics. A line perhaps inaccurately attributed ...

"Ad nauseam. This argument approach uses tireless repetition of an idea. An idea, especially a simple slogan, that is repeated enough times, may begin to be taken as the truth. This approach works ...

First, fans started calling Jayson Tatum “The Anomaly.” Then NBA nicknames spiraled into even more surreal waters. It’s all patently absurd—and kind of awesome.

— Name-calling, aka the ad hominem fallacy. Rather than addressing your foe’s positions, belittle them. Trump likely sees it as his way of branding people: Lyin’ Ted, Crooked Hillary, Sleepy ...

A quick guide to logical fallacies. Fallacies include ad hominem, appeals to authority, the fallacy fallacy, circular arguments, etc. The Stealth Bombers Have Begun Returning From Iran To U.S ...

So, say that!” (italics in the original). Of course, such an ad hominem should be backed up with evidence, which makes it, at least in part, a matter of logos, lest it be frivolous.

Schopenhauer (2004; published first in 1831) also saw a place for ad hominem arguments, listing them among 38 stratagems recommended to those speakers who are facing defeat in a debate (Krueger ...

2 Spot the Signs Once children know what ad hominem attacks are, teach them how to spot them. Discuss how these attacks often involve insults, mockery, or irrelevant personal details.

Opinion writer Barth Keck remembers that he was 12 when President Richard Nixon did something wrong, got caught, and needed to step aside. Fast forward to 2023 and former president Donald Trump ...