An ad hominem fallacy is one that relies on personal attacks rather than reason or substance. Instead of addressing the actual argument or issue being discussed, an ad hominem attack focuses on attacking the person making the argument. This fallacy attempts to discredit the argument by attacking the character, circumstances, or attributes of the individual making the argument rather than providing a valid counterargument.
For example, if someone argues that smoking is harmful to health and another person responds by saying, "You're a smoker yourself, so your argument is invalid," that would be an ad hominem fallacy. The response attacks the person making the argument (being a smoker) rather than addressing the actual validity of the argument about the harmful effects of smoking.
In essence, an ad hominem fallacy diverts attention away from the actual argument or issue at hand by attacking the individual making the argument, rather than engaging with the substance of the argument itself.
