Some argument schemes are designated by Latin labels, S. A/Ab —; Ad —; Ex —. This entry lists the labels using the Latin preposition ad. In classical Latin, the preposition ad is constructed with the accusative and introduces a goal complement. The phrase “argument ad hominem” reads “argument addressing the person”.
According to Hamblin, the oldest scheme in this grouping is ad hominem, which appears in the Latin translations of Aristotle; this naming method was popularized by Locke ([1690]) and by Bentham ([1824]), and most of these terms seem to be nineteenth or twentieth century creations (Hamblin 1970, p. 41; p. 161- 162).
1. A list of “ad + N” arguments
Latin name of the Argument
Meaning of the Latin word(s)
• (When necessary a word-for-word translation)
• (English equivalent(s))
• Reference to the corresponding entry/ies
| (reductio) ad absurdum (also: ab absurdo): | Lat. absurdus, “false, unpleasant, absurd” — reduction to the absurd — S. Absurd |
| ad amicitiam | Lat. amicitia, “friendship” — appeal to friendship — S. Emotion |
| ad antiquitatem | Lat. antiquitas, “antiquity, tradition” — appeal to antiquity, to tradition — S. Authority |
| ad auditorem (pl. ad auditores) | Lat. auditor, “hearer, audience” — S. Beliefs of the audience. |
| ad baculum | Lat. baculus, “stick” — S. Threat — Promise |
| ad captandum vulgus | Lat. captare, “try to seize … by insinuation, by guile”; vulgus “crowd, ordinary people” — playing to the gallery ; playing to the crowd — S. Emotion; Ad populum ; Laughter and Seriousness. |
| ad consequentiam | Lat. consequentia, “following, consequence” — S. Ad consequentiam; Consequence — Effect |
| ad crumenam | Lat. crumena, “purse” — argument to the purse — S. Emotion ; Threat — Promise |
| (reductio) ad falsum |
Lat. falsum, “false” — reduction to a falsehood — S. Absurd |
| ad fidem | Lat. fides, “faith” — S. Faith |
| ad fulmen | Lat. fulmen, “thunderbolt” — argument from thunderbolt — S. Threat — Promise |
| ad hominem | Lat. homo, “human being” — S. Ad hominem |
| ad ignorantiam |
Lat. ignorantia, “ignorance” — S. Ignorance |
| ad imaginationem |
Lat. imaginatio, “picture, vision” — appeal to imagination — S. Subjectivity |
| (reductio) ad impossibile |
Lat. impossibile “impossible” — reduction to the impossible — S. Absurd |
| (deducendo, reductio) ad incommodum: | Lat. incommodum “unfortunate, disadvantageous” — reduction to the uncomfortable — S. Ad incommodum |
| ad invidiam: | Lat. invidia, “hate, envy” — appeal to envy — S. Emotion |
| ad iudicium: |
Lat. iudicium, “sentence, judgment, opinion” — arg. appealing to the judgment ; to common sense — S. Matter |
| ad lapidem: | Lat. lapis, “stone; (symbol of stupidity, insensibility)” — S. Dismissal |
| ad Lazarum | Lat. Lazarus, character of the Bible, paragon of the destitute — arg. ad Lazarum — S. Rich and Poor |
| ad litteram: | Lat. littera, “letter” — S. Strict Meaning |
| ad ludicrum: | Lat. ludicrum, “public game (theater, circus…)” — appeal to the gallery — S. Emotion; Ad populum ; Laughter and Seriousness |
| ad metum | Lat. metus, “fear, apprehension” — appeal to fear — S. Threat — Promise |
| ad misericordiam: | Lat. misericordia, “compassion, pity” — appeal to pity — S. Emotion |
| ad modum: | Lat. modus “measure, just measure, moderation” — arg. of gradualism — S. Proportion |
| ad naturam: | Lat. natura, “nature” — appeal to nature ; naturalistic fallacy — S. Weight of circumstances |
| ad nauseam: | Lat. nausea, “nausea, seasickness” — proof by assertion — S. Repetition |
| ad novitatem: | Lat. novitas, “novelty, innovation; unexpected thing” — appeal to novelty — S. Progress |
| ad numerum: | Lat. numerus, “number, great number” — arg. from number — S. Authority |
| ad odium: | Lat. odium, “hate” — appeal to hatred, to spite — S. Emotion |
| ad orationem | Lat. oratio, “language, comments, speech, discourse” — S. Matter |
| ad passionem (pl. ad passiones) |
Lat. passio, “passivity; passion, emotion” ; appeal to passion, to emotion — S. Pathos ; Emotion |
| ad personam | Lat. persona, “mask; role; person” — abusive ad hominem — S. Personal Attack; Ad hominem |
| ad populum | Lat. populus “people” — appeal to people, arg. from popularity — S. Ad populum |
| ad quietem | Lat. quies “rest; political neutrality; calm; peace”, tranquili- ty” — appeal for calm, conservatism — S. Calm |
| ad rem | Lat. res, “thing, being, reality ; judicial matter, issue” — arg. addressed to the thing, to the point, dealing with the matter at hand — S. Matter |
| ad reverentiam | Lat. reverentia, “respectful fear; deference” —S. Respect |
| ad ridiculum | Lat. ridiculus, “funny; ridicule” — appeal to ridicule, appeal to mockery — S. Absurd ; Laughter and seriousness |
| ad socordiam | Lat. socordia, “stupidity; indolence” — appeal to weak-mindedness — S. Subjectivity |
| ad superbiam | Lat. superbia, “pride” — appeal to pride; arg. of popular corruption — S. Emotion; Ad populum |
| ad superstitionem | Lat. superstitio, “superstition”— S. Subjectivity |
| ad temperantiam | Lat. temperantia, “moderation, restraint” — S. Proportion |
| ad verecundiam | Lat. verecundia, “respect, modesty, discretion ; fear of shame” — arg. from modesty ; arg. from authority — S. Subjectivity ; Modesty ; Authority |
| ad vertiginem | Lat. vertigo, “rotation, dizziness” — S. Vertigo |
1.Characteristics of the “ad + N” family
2.1 A productive pattern
There are many more “ad +N” arguments than there are “a / ab + N” arguments. Only the “ad +N” construction is still productive; the pattern is popular and mocked (ad bananum argument).
2.2 Origin of the labels
Some of these names have been defined and used by Locke and Bentham, S. Collections (III).
Locke has defined the arguments:
| ad hominem | ad judicium |
| ad ignorantiam | ad verecundiam |
Bentham has defined the arguments:
| ad amicitiam
ad ignorantiam ad imaginationem ad invidiam |
ad judicium ad metum ad odium ad quietem | ad socordiam ad superbiam ad superstitionem ad verecundiam |
2.3 Semantic subsets of “a d + N” arguments
These arguments refer to very different strategies. Nonetheless, some group- ings can be proposed according to their semantic content.
(i) Arguments bound to affects, emotions, often via positive interest (rewards) or negative results (threats):
| ad amicitiam
ad captandum vulgus ad invidiam ad ludicrum ad metum (ad carcerem, ad baculum, ad fulmen, ad crumenam) |
ad misericordiam
ad novitatem ad numerum ad passionem ad odium ad quietem |
ad personam
ad populum ad superbiam ad verecundiam |
(ii) Arguments involving a limited, subjective system of beliefs, not universal, questionable:
| ad consequentiam
ad fidem ad hominem |
ad ignorantiam
ad imaginationem ad incommodum |
ad socordiam
ad superstitionem ad vertiginem |
Categories (i) and (ii) list arguments often considered as misleading, insofar as they express the subjectivity of the speaker. In other words, they are related to the ethotic and pathemic components, S. Subjectivity; Ethos; Pathos; Emotion.
(iii) Arguments opposed to the subjective series (i) and (ii) and dealing with the substance of the issue:
| ad iudicium | ad rem |