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We have at least two of our theist friends who seemingly can't make even a single post without including some sort of ad hom. So I decided to do some research regarding it, and here's the result:
1. IT CAN MAKE YOU LOOK UNINTELLIGENT
Smart people use ad hominem arguments, it’s true. But ad hominem attacks are generally viewed as a sign of low intelligence. Even Urban Dictionary—hardly a forum for high brows—recognizes that ad hominem arguments are generally used “by immature and/or unintelligent people because they are unable to counter their opponent using logic and intelligence.”
There’s no doubt that some ad hominem attacks can be clever. But to be viewed as a person of intelligence, one must learn to counter and debunk arguments, not simply deride or smear people.
Summary: ad hom is mostly used by the unintelligent.
Some other reasons to avoid ad hom:
"2. It Destroys Civil Discourse
“Avoiding ad hominem attacks is, in fact, a foundational element of civil discourse,” writes Geher, professor of psychology at the State University of New York at New Paltz. “[As] hard as it may seem, most people, regardless of where they stand politically, share the same goals of making this world a better place. In a climate beleaguered with disagreement, let’s remember that all discourse should be respectful and civil. Avoiding the ad hominem attack is a basic aspect of best practices in political discourse.”
4. It Ends Fruitful Discussion of Ideas
One of the best ways to sharpen the mind and get closer to truth is to challenge one’s own ideas. This often involves dialogue with other people. Because people rarely see eye to eye on all matters, it’s not unusual for debates and disagreements to occur. This is entirely proper. The fruitfulness of discussion depends largely on how well people are able to listen to one another and respectfully exchange ideas. Once a discussion grows heated, it makes a fruitful exchange of ideas more difficult. When the ad hominem appears, it’s generally a sign that a healthy exchange of ideas is no longer possible."
For more info: 5 Reasons to Avoid Ad Hominem Arguments - Foundation for Economic Education
In addition, this was a recent post by one of those aforementioned theist chatter friends:
"Do you really not see? atheism is sheer vacuousness, the emperor's new clothes, fake erudition, supercilious waffle, a comfort blanket, that's ultimately all it is, whether it be Dawkins or anyone else."
Yes, this chatter regularly insults the intelligence of atheists, both in a personal and generalized manner, and so I also did some research in that area and here's what I found: Why Are Atheists Generally Smarter Than Religious People? | Live Science
"For more than a millennium, scholars have noticed a curious correlation: Atheists tend to be more intelligent than religious people.
It's unclear why this trend persists, but researchers of a new study have an idea: Religion is an instinct, they say, and people who can rise above instincts are more intelligent than those who rely on them.
"Intelligence — in rationally solving problems — can be understood as involving overcoming instinct and being intellectually curious and thus open to non-instinctive possibilities," study lead author Edward Dutton, a research fellow at the Ulster Institute for Social Research in the United Kingdom, said in a statement.
Scientists ran a meta-analysis of 63 studies and found that religious people tend to be less intelligent than nonreligious people. The association was stronger among college students and the general public than for those younger than college age, they found."
I can certainly agree if the small sample in this forum is any indication. In my short time, here, I have been very impressed with the thoughtfulness and reason and (for most) CALMNESS in which the atheists make their case. I will simply leave it there rather than post any negativity towards our theists friends in here.
Your thoughts?
1. IT CAN MAKE YOU LOOK UNINTELLIGENT
Smart people use ad hominem arguments, it’s true. But ad hominem attacks are generally viewed as a sign of low intelligence. Even Urban Dictionary—hardly a forum for high brows—recognizes that ad hominem arguments are generally used “by immature and/or unintelligent people because they are unable to counter their opponent using logic and intelligence.”
There’s no doubt that some ad hominem attacks can be clever. But to be viewed as a person of intelligence, one must learn to counter and debunk arguments, not simply deride or smear people.
Summary: ad hom is mostly used by the unintelligent.
Some other reasons to avoid ad hom:
"2. It Destroys Civil Discourse
“Avoiding ad hominem attacks is, in fact, a foundational element of civil discourse,” writes Geher, professor of psychology at the State University of New York at New Paltz. “[As] hard as it may seem, most people, regardless of where they stand politically, share the same goals of making this world a better place. In a climate beleaguered with disagreement, let’s remember that all discourse should be respectful and civil. Avoiding the ad hominem attack is a basic aspect of best practices in political discourse.”
4. It Ends Fruitful Discussion of Ideas
One of the best ways to sharpen the mind and get closer to truth is to challenge one’s own ideas. This often involves dialogue with other people. Because people rarely see eye to eye on all matters, it’s not unusual for debates and disagreements to occur. This is entirely proper. The fruitfulness of discussion depends largely on how well people are able to listen to one another and respectfully exchange ideas. Once a discussion grows heated, it makes a fruitful exchange of ideas more difficult. When the ad hominem appears, it’s generally a sign that a healthy exchange of ideas is no longer possible."
For more info: 5 Reasons to Avoid Ad Hominem Arguments - Foundation for Economic Education
In addition, this was a recent post by one of those aforementioned theist chatter friends:
"Do you really not see? atheism is sheer vacuousness, the emperor's new clothes, fake erudition, supercilious waffle, a comfort blanket, that's ultimately all it is, whether it be Dawkins or anyone else."
Yes, this chatter regularly insults the intelligence of atheists, both in a personal and generalized manner, and so I also did some research in that area and here's what I found: Why Are Atheists Generally Smarter Than Religious People? | Live Science
"For more than a millennium, scholars have noticed a curious correlation: Atheists tend to be more intelligent than religious people.
It's unclear why this trend persists, but researchers of a new study have an idea: Religion is an instinct, they say, and people who can rise above instincts are more intelligent than those who rely on them.
"Intelligence — in rationally solving problems — can be understood as involving overcoming instinct and being intellectually curious and thus open to non-instinctive possibilities," study lead author Edward Dutton, a research fellow at the Ulster Institute for Social Research in the United Kingdom, said in a statement.
Scientists ran a meta-analysis of 63 studies and found that religious people tend to be less intelligent than nonreligious people. The association was stronger among college students and the general public than for those younger than college age, they found."
I can certainly agree if the small sample in this forum is any indication. In my short time, here, I have been very impressed with the thoughtfulness and reason and (for most) CALMNESS in which the atheists make their case. I will simply leave it there rather than post any negativity towards our theists friends in here.
Your thoughts?