🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1ipt4lINN5af@titan.ucc.umass.edu> danco@titan.ucc.umass.edu (DANIEL F COHEN) writes:
>
> miner@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu writes:
>>PL436000@brownvm.brown.edu (Jamie) writes:
>>>>From: pmsc13sg@UMASSD.EDU (Stephen Grossman)
>>> 
>>>>    SG         Zeleny has perfected the argumentum ad loudmouth. 
>>> Jamie         I wonder if Grossman actually knows what "ad" means, or if he
>>>               only *mistakenly* called himself a loudmouth?
>>> Miner         Apparently you don't know what it means either, unless you're
>>                kidding...<:-)

The "argumentum ad baculum" is not an argument directed at or to a stick,
but means: arguing by appeal, not to reason, but to force ("say that again
and I'll infect you with this here baculus"); an "ad hominem" is
reasoning by reference to one's opponent's supposed defects, rather
than by reference to any flaws in this argument.

So: "ad loudmouth" means "Zeleny has only a loud voice, but no
argumentive support".  Strikes me that that flame is your standard bit
of ad hominem itself: nasty and undeserved.
-- 
Michael Feld                  | E-mail: <feld@ccu.umanitoba.ca>
Dept. of Philosophy           | FAX: (204) 261-0021
University of Manitoba        | Voice: (204) 474-9136
Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2M8, Canada