LSAT (Law School Admission Test)Logical ReasoningEasy
Politician: My opponent claims that raising the minimum wage will lead to job losses. However, my opponent is a wealthy business owner who benefits from low wages, so his arguments against a higher minimum wage are clearly self-serving and should be dismissed.
- AThe politician assumes that a person's financial interests automatically invalidate their arguments.
- BThe politician fails to provide evidence that raising the minimum wage would not lead to job losses.
- CThe politician attacks the character of the opponent rather than addressing the substance of the opponent's argument.
- DThe politician does not define what constitutes 'wealthy' or 'low wages'.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. The politician attacks the character of the opponent rather than addressing the substance of the opponent's argument.
This argument commits an ad hominem fallacy. Instead of refuting the opponent's claim about job losses (the substance of the argument), the politician attacks the opponent's personal circumstances (being a wealthy business owner) to dismiss their argument. The truth or falsity of the claim about job losses is independent of who makes it or their motives.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This is an underlying assumption of the ad hominem, but 'A' describes the *action* of the politician more directly.
- B. This points to a weakness in the politician's *own* argument (lack of counter-evidence), but not the flaw in how they treat the opponent's argument.
- D. Lack of definition is a minor weakness, not the central logical flaw of dismissing an argument based on the arguer's characteristics.
Ad Hominem (Circumstantial) (LSAT)
A fallacy where an argument is dismissed or attacked not based on its content, but on the perceived motives, circumstances, or character of the person making the argument.
- Focuses on the arguer, not the argument.
- Often implies bias due to personal interest.
- Does not address the truth or falsity of the claim itself.
Memory trick: Don't shoot the messenger; evaluate the message.