UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The ad hominem fallacy occurs when someone dismisses or discounts an argument by attacking the arguer rather than the premises or reasoning. Such attacks may focus on character, motives or background, but they are logically irrelevant to whether the conclusion follows from the reasons. This shifts attention away from the substance of the argument. Hence the kind of error described in the stem is the ad hominem fallacy.

Option A:
Option A, straw man, involves misrepresenting an opponent's position to make it easier to attack, rather than targeting the person. While also irrelevant, it is conceptually distinct from a direct personal attack.

Option B:
Option B is correct because ad hominem literally means “to the person” and captures reasoning that targets the individual rather than the issue. Recognising this fallacy helps students keep focus on arguments rather than personalities.

Option C:
Option C, ad verecundiam, is an appeal to inappropriate authority, where someone relies on the opinion of a non-expert to support a claim. It does not involve attacking a person's character.

Option D:
Option D, red herring, introduces an irrelevant issue to distract from the main point, but it need not involve personal criticism of the arguer.