Which statement best defines an ad hominem?

• A. Attacks the personal character or behavior of an opponent.
• B. Proposes a cause-and-effect relationship without evidence.
• C. Suggests that everyone is doing it, so you should too.
• D. Assumes a conclusion from a small sample.

Answer: (A)

An ad hominem occurs when you attack the personal character or behavior of the opponent rather than engaging with the argument or evidence they present. This sidesteps evaluating the claim itself and tries to undermine the person making it, which doesn’t prove or disprove the idea. That’s why this statement—the one that focuses on attacking the opponent’s character or conduct—best captures what ad hominem means.

For context, other described flaws refer to different kinds of bad reasoning: proposing a cause-and-effect relationship without evidence is a faulty causal claim, appealing to popularity is a bandwagon fallacy, and drawing a conclusion from a small sample is a hasty generalization.