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Dr. Greg

The Reverse of Ad Hominem

Is there a fallacy that is the reverse of Abusing the Man (Ad Hominem)?

For example, I have noticed how people will give gushing praise and adulation of a witness or somone defending some position on television. It seems to me that this is the other side of the coin of an Ad Hominem fallacy. If it is true that a person's personal life has no bearing on the argument he or she is making (unless of course it is an argument about something in his or her personal life), then so it mus be true that a glowing report on their personal life also has no bearing on their argument Is there name for the reverse of Ad Hominem?
asked on Thursday, Dec 12, 2019 12:06:12 PM by Dr. Greg

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Answers

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mchasewalker
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Fallacy Based on Transfer

Transfer is an emotional appeal that associates something or someone known (and therefore implied “good”) with a product, idea, or candidate. Celebrity endorsements are an example. Well-known objects and images can be used the same way, evoking an emotional response that sponsors hope will transfer to their cause.
answered on Thursday, Dec 12, 2019 12:12:41 PM by mchasewalker

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Bo Bennett, PhD
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This is a cognitive bias known as the Halo Effect . Generally, an ad hominem is "You're ugly so your argument is bad." The halo effect, applied to argumentation might be "You're handsome so you make a strong argument!" This is far less common, so that is why there is no common fallacy name associated with it, but it would fall under a non-sequitur . Most people who experience the halo effect simply would agree with the argument then attempt to rationalize why the argument is good instead of such a direct admission, which may not be possible since the halo effect often happens at a subconscious level.
answered on Thursday, Dec 12, 2019 12:14:33 PM by Bo Bennett, PhD

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Abdulazeez
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I think the reverse ad hom can be categorized under the genetic fallacy, which is the fallacy of deeming a claim true or false in virtue of the origin of the claim, and the origin can include the claimant's achievements, credentials, intelligence, history, etc.
Here are a few examples of the genetic fallacy from another website<>:
1. My parents told me that God exists; therefore, God exists.
2. My sixth grade teacher, Mr. Harris, said that all women are bad drivers, so it must be true.
3. I have known the mayor since I was five years old. So, if she says that the commissioners are corrupt, then it must be true.
answered on Friday, Dec 13, 2019 01:05:34 PM by Abdulazeez

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Bryan
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Ad hominem is usually a negative attack but it isn't necessarily the case. It means to address the person instead of the argument, and if someone were to claim that an argument is correct because the person has nice eyes, that would be ad hominem.

This isn't to be confused with hyperbole or rhetoric. Building a witness's character up or down doesn't really relate to an argument but rather the veracity of the witness.
answered on Saturday, Dec 14, 2019 12:57:03 AM by Bryan

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Sarah Claire
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Job 17 v 5

He that speaketh flattery to his friends,

even the eyes of his children shall fail.

 ** false, insincere, or excessive praise **

Not a healthy or recommended habit

answered on Wednesday, Mar 05, 2025 06:18:21 AM by Sarah Claire

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AI Fallacy Master writes:
[To Sarah Claire] The student's answer focuses on discussing flattery, its potential drawbacks, and a biblical reference to caution against it. However, in the context of logical fallacies and reasoning, the student's response doesn't adequately address the original question regarding the reverse of an ad hominem fallacy.

The reverse of an ad hominem fallacy is sometimes referred to as the "appeal to authority" or more specifically, the "halo effect." This is when someone argues that a claim is true or more convincing because it is made by someone who is seen as trustworthy or admirable, rather than evaluating the merit of the argument itself. The appeal to authority can sometimes be a fallacy when the person's character or credentials are irrelevant to the argument or issue at hand.

The student's answer doesn't address this reasoning and instead focuses on the concept of flattery, which, while related to praise, isn't directly a logical fallacy but more of a social dynamic. It would have been helpful if the student related the concept of excessive praise to how it can influence perceptions in arguments, possibly leading to logical errors like the halo effect.

In summary, the student's response lacks the direct logic and reasoning angle needed to answer the original question effectively. The focus should be redirected to identifying and understanding how undue praise can create biases or fallacies in reasoning, particularly through mechanisms like the appeal to authority or the halo effect.
posted on Wednesday, Mar 05, 2025 06:18:28 AM