An ad hominem attack shifts the focus from the argument to the arguer’s character

Evidence

This fallacy shifts an argument from the point being discussed (ad rem) to irrelevant personal characteristics of an opponent (ad hominem). Instead of addressing the issue presented by an opponent, this argument makes the opponent the issue. It shifts attention from the argument to the arguer; instead of disproving the substance of what is asserted, the argument attacks the person who made the assertion. — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 1049

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the core fallacy of argumentum ad hominem as shifting from ad rem to the arguer.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 1049
• XREF: connects to: A narrow observational claim can expand into a broad public argument.; Ad hominem attacks in scholarly debate often stem from feeling oneself misrepresented. — Philip Chase Bobbitt, Reflections Inspired by My Critics, 383; Challenging consensus triggers dismissal of the arguer rather than the argument — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk: The Collected and Unpublished…, 2389 (+1 more)