mogadishu wrote:hmmm... do you mean ad hominem attacks are sound if they identify that someone is not a relevant authority? if you take a look at it again i think you'll find your mistaken.
There are several categories where ad hominem is not fallacious according to Walton. In fact many, if not all, logical fallacies have situations in which they are not fallacious.
An ad hominem attack can be used to dispute an argument by someone if you can prove they are bigoted and therefore any information they provide is biased beyond pale by the bigotry. Also of course an argument requires give and take and critical thinking. A bigot can't do either.
Arguing from ignorance for instance is not fallacious when you consider that OSHA would not exist if there weren't a strong logical argument that bad work conditions might cause injury, even if we don't know what the injury is or might be.
I could go on, but I'd rather just recommend you get an advanced book on argumentation.











