Posted by southcoastdiver on March 21, 2005 at 14:06:21:
In Reply to: your DIR stuff posted by northcoast diver on March 21, 2005 at 13:20:28:
Dear Hans:
Your reply to Doug was "If you are not smart enough to know the difference between opinions, then you probably need a brain transplant."
This is avoiding the serious issue he correctly raised.
Instead of responding in a logical manner, you chose the "ad Homiem" fallacy to hide the real issues he pointed out.
There are a number of common pitfalls to avoid when constructing a deductive argument; they're known as fallacies. In everyday English, we refer to many kinds of mistaken beliefs as fallacies; but in logic, the term has a more specific meaning: a fallacy is a technical flaw which makes an argument unsound or invalid.
Argumentum ad hominem literally means "argument directed at the man", not his argument.
You refuse to accept a statement, and justify your refusal by criticizing the person who made the statement, then you are guilty of abusive argumentum ad hominem.
Please defend your statement that the bends " can be successfully self-treated with rest and sleep."
Please defend this statement as many of us feel it is not just incorrect, but blatantly irresponsible for you AS AN INSTRUCTOR to be promoting this.
southcoast diver