Flaw of the Week · October 19, 2026
Ad Hominem: Attack the Scientist, Skip the Science
The flawed argument
A talk-show host dismissed a climate researcher's findings by pointing out that the researcher once exaggerated on a grant application. "You cannot trust a word he says," the host concluded.
Why it fails
The host never touches the data. Even a dishonest researcher can report true findings, and the findings stand or fall on evidence, not on the researcher's resume. Attacking the person is a dodge, not a rebuttal.
The answer
The flaw is an ad hominem attack: discrediting the person instead of engaging with the evidence.
Other weeks
Now try spotting flaws yourself.
Try flaw samples
Three original flaw questions with explanations, free and untimed.
Last updated October 12, 2026