Author: Md. Saiful Islam Masum

In classical logic and philosophy, there exists a well-established concept known as the ad hominiem fallacy. It describes a flawed argumentative tactic in which, rather than addressing the substance of a claim, one seeks to invalidate it by attacking the character, identity, background, or personal circumstances of the individual advancing it. The argument itself remains untouched; the person becomes the target. It is a diversionary maneuver—designed not to enlighten discourse, but to derail it. An ad hominem fallacy, therefore, is not merely a rhetorical misstep; it is an intellectual evasion. When criticism becomes irrelevant to the issue at hand and…