On Ad Hominems and Insults

In heated debates, one commonly hears one person accuse another of committing an ad hominem fallacy. Whenever something insulting or disrepectful is said, it is assumed that this constitutes an ad hominem. This is not necessarily the case.

An ad hominem is, by definition, an argument. Specifically, it is a kind of argument that seeks to discredit another person's viewpoint by pointing out some character flaw in the person arguing the view. Wikipedia puts it this way:

A (fallacious) ad hominem argument has the basic form:

1) A makes claim B;

2) there is something objectionable about A,

3) therefore claim B is false.

Since emotions tend to rise in heated discussions, one frequently senses impatience and frustration in the parties involved. This is frequently the case in theological debates when our most deeply cherished beliefs are challenged. It's very easy to get upset with those who seem to be undermining important truth and influencing others. Zeal for one's viewpoint can easily cause uncharitable, disrespectful and ungracious speech to occur in an argument. An inappropriate character comment is the inevitable result.

I wish to point out that these inappropriate character comments do not always constitute ad hominems. This does not mean that the one making character comments is behaving virtuously. It only means that it is inaccurate to call all insults or character comments made in a polemical discourse ad hominems. In fact, I believe it's more likely that a person is just venting their frustrations. Doing this in argumentation may cause the other person to retaliate. Such behavior serves to distract the issue at hand and understanding is usually not achieved.

With that said, I think the entry at Wikipedia is correct. They make a distinction between mere insults and ad hominem insults. Here's what they say:

"An ad hominem fallacy consists of asserting that someone's argument is wrong and/or they are wrong to argue at all purely because of something discreditable/not-authoritative about the person or those persons cited by them rather than addressing the soundness of the argument itself. The implication is that the person's argument and/or ability to argue correctly lacks authority. Merely insulting another person in the middle of otherwise rational discourse does not necessarily constitute an ad hominem fallacy. It must be clear that the purpose of the characterization is to discredit the person offering the argument, and, specifically, to invite others to discount his arguments. In the past, the term ad hominem was sometimes used more literally, to describe an argument that was based on an individual, or to describe any personal attack. But this is not how the meaning of the term is typically introduced in modern logic and rhetoric textbooks, and logicians and rhetoricians are widely agreed that this use is incorrect."

Therefore, it seems to me that we should be careful when we assert that someone is committing an ad hominem fallacy. They may just be insulting the other person. Christians should be watchful against this sort of behavior, especially when the bible gives so many warnings about the use of the tongue. Also, as James points out, the wrath of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.

NIV James 1:20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.