“Ad Hominem”
Well, You’re Dumb!
What is Ad Hominem?
Directing an argument or conclusion against a person’s character instead of their idea or arguments.
Business Application
An idea or argument should be explored on its merit and logical foundation, not accepted or rejected because a specific person has suggested it.
Assuming the someone cannot make great observations or come up with innovative ideas just because they don’t fit a profile or have a perceived negative association is not rooted in proper logic.
Example
Position -“Joey figured out how we can squeeze another 5% profit without sacrificing customer experience or increasing our rates!”
Fallacy -Joey? From the mail room? He doesn’t even have a college degree.
Why This is a Fallacy
The ad hominem suggests that someone from the mail room cannot know enough about business to create valuable insights.
