About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherUniversity of Alabama Press

ISBN-100817355618

ISBN-139780817355616

eBay Product ID (ePID)71635316

Product Key Features

Number of Pages344 Pages

Publication NameAd Hominem Arguments

LanguageEnglish

SubjectCommunication Studies, General, Rhetoric, Logic

Publication Year2009

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaMathematics, Philosophy, Language Arts & Disciplines

AuthorDouglas Walton

SeriesStudies in Rhetoric and Communication Ser.

FormatTrade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height0.9 in

Item Weight19 Oz

Item Length9 in

Item Width6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceScholarly & Professional

Reviews"Walton's own careful categorization and formalization of the various kinds of ad hominem arguments brings clarity to the subject. . . . Walton's book can be recommended for its plethora of interesting examples, its historically informed discussion, and its useful typology of ad hominem arguments."-The Midwest Quarterly, "Walton's own careful categorization and formalization of the various kinds of ad hominem arguments brings clarity to the subject. . . . Walton's book can be recommended for its plethora of interesting examples, its historically informed discussion, and its useful typology of ad hominem arguments." -- Midwest Quarterly, "Walton's own careful categorization and formalization of the various kinds of ad hominem arguments brings clarity to the subject. . . . Walton's book can be recommended for its plethora of interesting examples, its historically informed discussion, and its useful typology of ad hominem arguments." -- The Midwest Quarterly, "Walton's own careful categorization and formalization of the various kinds of ad hominem arguments brings clarity to the subject. . . . Walton's book can be recommended for its plethora of interesting examples, its historically informed discussion, and its useful typology of ad hominem arguments."- The Midwest Quarterly, "Rarely is a study of some technical aspect of logic presented in a readable manner: this one has that virtue. . . . Succinct and authoritative. A definitive study."- Choice, "Quite accessible to the interested general reader . . . Walton's books are intelligent, perceptive commentaries on aspects of common argumentative practice. . . . We see in Walton a hugely impressive example of the necessity of disciplined observation as a necessary condition of a scientifically tenable understanding of the matters at hand. . . . At the level of 'models of the data,' there is nothing in the literature that surpasses Ad Hominem Arguments. Walton has done us the service of publishing a book that is necessary reading."- Argumentation, "Quite accessible to the interested general reader . . . Walton's books are intelligent, perceptive commentaries on aspects of common argumentative practice. . . . We see in Walton a hugely impressive example of the necessity of disciplined observation as a necessary condition of a scientifically tenable understanding of the matters at hand. . . . At the level of 'models of the data,' there is nothing in the literature that surpasses Ad Hominem Arguments. Walton has done us the service of publishing a book that is necessary reading." --Argumentation , "Quite accessible to the interested general reader . . . Walton's books are intelligent, perceptive commentaries on aspects of common argumentative practice. . . . We see in Walton a hugely impressive example of the necessity of disciplined observation as a necessary condition of a scientifically tenable understanding of the matters at hand. . . . At the level of 'models of the data,' there is nothing in the literature that surpasses Ad Hominem Arguments. Walton has done us the service of publishing a book that is necessary reading."-Argumentation, "Rarely is a study of some technical aspect of logic presented in a readable manner: this one has that virtue. . . . Succinct and authoritative. A definitive study." -- CHOICE, "Quite accessible to the interested general reader . . . Walton's books are intelligent, perceptive commentaries on aspects of common argumentative practice. . . . We see in Walton a hugely impressive example of the necessity of disciplined observation as a necessary condition of a scientifically tenable understanding of the matters at hand. . . . At the level of 'models of the data,' there is nothing in the literature that surpasses Ad Hominem Arguments. Walton has done us the service of publishing a book that is necessary reading." --Argumentation, "Rarely is a study of some technical aspect of logic presented in a readable manner: this one has that virtue. . . . Succinct and authoritative. A definitive study."-Choice, "Quite accessible to the interested general reader . . . Walton's books are intelligent, perceptive commentaries on aspects of common argumentative practice. . . . We see in Walton a hugely impressive example of the necessity of disciplined observation as a necessary condition of a scientifically tenable understanding of the matters at hand. . . . At the level of 'models of the data,' there is nothing in the literature that surpasses Ad Hominem Arguments. Walton has done us the service of publishing a book that is necessary reading." -- Argumentation, "Rarely is a study of some technical aspect of logic presented in a readable manner: this one has that virtue. . . . Succinct and authoritative. A definitive study." -- Choice

IllustratedYes

Dewey Decimal808

SynopsisA vital contribution to legal theory and media and civic discourse In the 1860s, northern newspapers attacked Abraham Lincoln's policies by attacking his character, using the terms "drunk," "baboon," "too slow," "foolish," and "dishonest." Steadily on the increase in political argumentation since then, the argumentum ad hominem, or personal attack argument, has now been carefully refined as an instrument of "oppo tactics" and "going negative" by the public relations experts who craft political campaigns at the national level. In this definitive treatment of one of the most important concepts in argumentation theory and informal logic, Douglas Walton presents a normative framework for identifying and evaluating ad hominem or personal attack arguments. Personal attack arguments have often proved to be so effective, in election campaigns, for example, that even while condemning them, politicians have not stopped using them. In the media, in the courtroom, and in everyday confrontation, ad hominem arguments are easy to put forward as accusations, are difficult to refute, and often have an extremely powerful effect on persuading an audience. Walton gives a clear method for analyzing and evaluating cases of ad hominem arguments found in everyday argumentation. His analysis classifies the ad hominem argument into five clearly defined subtypes--abusive (direct), circumstantial, bias, "poisoning the well," and tu quoque ("you're just as bad") arguments--and gives methods for evaluating each type. Each subtype is given a well-defined form as a recognizable type of argument. The numerous case studies show in concrete terms many practical aspects of how to use textual evidence to identify and analyze fallacies and to evaluate argumentation as fallacious or not in particular cases., A vital contribution to legal theory and media and civic discourse In the 1860s, northern newspapers attacked Abraham Lincoln's policies by attacking his character, using the terms "drunk," "baboon," "too slow," "foolish," and "dishonest." Political argumentation has steadily increased since then and the argumentum ad hominem, or personal attack argument, has now been carefully refined as an instrument of "oppo tactics" and "going negative" by the public relations experts who design political campaigns at the national level. In this definitive treatment of one of the most important concepts in argumentation theory and informal logic, Douglas Walton presents a normative framework for identifying and evaluating ad hominem or personal attack arguments. Personal attack arguments have often proved to be so effective, in election campaigns, for example, that even while condemning them, politicians have not stopped using them. In the media, in the courtroom, and in everyday confrontation, ad hominem arguments are easy to put forward as accusations, are difficult to refute, and often have an extremely powerful effect on persuading an audience. Walton gives a clear method for analyzing and evaluating cases of ad hominem arguments found in everyday argumentation. His analysis classifies the ad hominem argument into five clearly defined subtypes--abusive (direct), circumstantial, bias, "poisoning the well," and tu quoque ("you're just as bad") arguments--and gives methods for evaluating each type. Each subtype is given a well-defined form as a recognizable type of argument. The numerous case studies show in concrete terms many practical aspects of how to use textual evidence to identify and analyze fallacies and to evaluate argumentation as fallacious or not in particular cases.