ARGUMENTUM AD HOMINEM

(Argument to the Man)

By: Joshua J. Peliño

         A fallacy that attacks the person you did not like. This fallacy is commonly used by many people in a way that they like to do, to disgrace and humiliate others. In every argument, people will use this fallacy to attack their opponents by saying harsh and dirty words. In our society this fallacy is rampant, we can hear it inside the house, with the circle of friends, in the computer hub, and in other instances. We can’t deny the fact that we are involved in this fallacy and most of the time we are the ones who humiliate and hurt others using words.

            In the context of the family and relatives. This is normal, your relatives will tell everything they want to tell, especially those rich family relatives, not all but most of the time. They will expose their wealth and humiliate their other relatives who consider their selves as poor. They use also the Filipino famous term “Crab Mentality”, they will down their relatives and be proud of themselves. It is okay to tell your achievements but we must tell them positively and with humility. In every family they actually expose everything. They do it as a sign of pride, and self-interest. Again, I am not against their attitude but they must think also about their relatives who are now suffering in their life.

            In the context of friends. Back-stubbing is very important in them like they will tell the bad side of their enemy and they will laugh and humiliate it. I personally experience both, the one who suffers humiliation and the one who humiliates others. I cannot imagine how others suffer those insults even though it is not for them, even if it is below the belt. My personal experience reminds me that I need to stop that kind of attitude that others suffer.

            In the context of Church workers. I put it here because I have a personal encounter with Argumentum ad Hominem. The Church workers must focus on their respective tasks given by the Parish Priest, but most of the time the workers a doing things outside their assigned tasks. I felt humiliated when there was a time, I commit only a single mistake and they do everything to humiliate me. I felt embarrassed and sad because most of them must act well but I did not expect their attitude.

            Let me also relate it on my circle of friend. I have different unique friends, they told me everything, their good and bad side. They would do it, casually or in serious mood. But there is also instances in our circle of friends that some will betray, they would do everything to down you. They would tell your dark side and make it as a discrimination. People will know everything. You will have trust issue and felt depress. I have a friend of mind, that she goes to a psychiatrist because on what had happen between her friends. Argumentum ad Hominem will make others life turns into miserable. It is hard to trust again if you will encounter that kind of friends. They would tell your dark side and humiliate you, day after day.  

            In the context of seminary. We live differently in the seminary, we have different attitude and characteristics. In my life in the seminary, I cannot deny the fact that Argumentum ad Hominem is not present, but actually some seminarians included me, doing that certain fallacy. Every time the seminarian are not likable with the community and he is so proud in himself, normally he is the center of gossips and actually making names out of him. We are not saints inside the seminary we are also human committing that fallacy. But as I said, I need to change my perspectives inside the seminary, I need to divert my attention of improving oneself and instead of back-stubbing, I need to confront my nemeses.

            In our society, Argumentum ad Hominem, is active and present, people would not live without doing “marites”, I think it is part of the societal issue were facing in today generation. People would tell everything to down the people. They fell relief if they accomplish their mission and that is to be center of attraction. We should stop this fallacy and focus on our selves. Because if are trying to insist it, the more we are capably of hurting the feeling of the other. People are very important on our context, no man is an island, and so we must live with others and try to build a nice relationship.

            Finally, Argumentum ad Hominem, is a big dilemma is our society. Trust issue is not a good manifestation of building relationship. We must think for a good one, we must realize that relationship is much important, and we must stop attacking other and focus on developing oneself.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

MODERN ASIAN THOUGHT: THE UNIQUE PARTICIPATION OF FILIPINO VALUES