Which term describes an argument that attacks a person instead of addressing the idea?

The term that describes an argument attacking a person instead of addressing the idea is "Ad Hominem." This type of argument occurs when an individual instead of refuting the argument presented by their opponent, targets the opponent’s character, traits, or circumstances to undermine their argument.

Ad Hominem is often used in debates and discussions to distract from the actual issues at hand, focusing instead on personal attacks. For example, instead of responding to a specific claim made about a policy, one might criticize the other speaker’s past behavior or qualifications, which does not address the validity of the claim itself.

In contrast, the other options refer to different logical fallacies. A Red Herring introduces unrelated material to divert attention from the main issue, while a Straw Man misrepresents the opponent’s argument to make it easier to attack. The False Dilemma presents a limited number of options, falsely suggesting that only these choices exist. Understanding these distinctions enriches one's comprehension of effective argumentation and critical thinking.