Izvorni znanstveni članak

https://doi.org/10.22210/govor.2026.43.01

Fallacy or strategy? Function of ad hominem in ethos and pathos

Branka Šegvić orcid.org/0000-0002-3547-5263 ; Aspira University of Applied Sciences, Split Croatia *

* Dopisni autor.

Sažetak

The ad hominem argument, which attacks the speaker rather than the content of their argument, has traditionally been classified as a logical fallacy and dismissed as an invalid form of reasoning. However, its persistent presence in political rhetoric suggests a persuasive function that extends beyond logical invalidity. Within classical rhetorical theory, persuasion operates through the triad of logos, ethos, and pathos. Ad hominem arguments often target ethos by discrediting an opponent’s character and evoke pathos by provoking emotional reactions in the audiences. This paper examines how ad hominem arguments intersect with the Aristotelian modes of persuasion through a case study of the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, held on 28 February 2025 at the White House in Washington, D.C. The findings indicate that ad hominem is more than a fallacy. It is a strategy that, directly or indirectly, affects all three modes of persuasion – ethos, pathos, and logos – by undermining credibility, evoking emotion, and diverting attention away from logical argumentation and from reasoned evidence.

Ključne riječi

ad hominem; fallacy; modes of persuasion; rhetorical strategy

Hrčak ID:

348948

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/348948

Datum izdavanja:

7.7.2026.

Posjeta: 0 *