PERSONAL ATTACK Meaning and
Definition
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A personal attack, also known as an ad hominem argument, refers to a verbal assault or criticism that is aimed at the character, personal qualities, or background of an individual, rather than addressing their ideas, arguments, or statements. It is an attempt to undermine or discredit someone's position by focusing on their perceived flaws or negative traits, rather than engaging in a rational debate or discussion. Personal attacks can take various forms such as name-calling, insults, disparagement, mockery, derogatory remarks, or offensive language.
By resorting to personal attacks, individuals divert attention from the subject matter at hand and instead attack the person presenting the argument. This tactic is often employed as a means to weaken the credibility or legitimacy of the target, as well as to provoke an emotional response that can distract from the original topic. Personal attacks commonly occur in political debates, online discussions, and even in interpersonal conflicts.
While personal attacks can be emotionally hurtful and damaging, they hold no logical or rational value in addressing the substance of an argument. Engaging in personal attacks is generally considered a fallacy, as it sidesteps the real issue being discussed and aims to discredit the opponent without providing any relevant counterarguments or evidence. Constructive and respectful discourse should focus on analyzing ideas and providing evidence-based explanations, rather than resorting to personal attacks that hinder progress and meaningful dialogue.
Common Misspellings for PERSONAL ATTACK
- oersonal attack
- lersonal attack
- -ersonal attack
- 0ersonal attack
- pwrsonal attack
- psrsonal attack
- pdrsonal attack
- prrsonal attack
- p4rsonal attack
- p3rsonal attack
- peesonal attack
- pedsonal attack
- pefsonal attack
- petsonal attack
- pe5sonal attack
- pe4sonal attack
- peraonal attack
- perzonal attack
- perxonal attack
- perdonal attack
Etymology of PERSONAL ATTACK
The word "personal attack" is formed by combining the adjective "personal", meaning pertaining to an individual or private, and the noun "attack", meaning a hostile or aggressive act.
The word "personal" originated from the Latin word "personalis", derived from "persona", which referred to a theatrical mask. Over time, "personalis" came to denote something related to a person's different roles or identities in society.
The word "attack" comes from the Old French term "ataquer" and the Latin verb "attacare". Both of these words originally denoted the act of fastening or sticking something to another. Gradually, "attack" started to be used to describe aggressive actions, particularly in the context of combat or assault.
The combination of these two elements gives us "personal attack", which refers to an aggressive or disparaging act specifically targeting an individual rather than their ideas or actions.
