Személyesked

Személyesked is a Hungarian term that translates roughly to "personal attack" or "ad hominem" in English. It refers to an argument or debate tactic where an individual attacks the character, motives, or other personal attributes of their opponent rather than addressing the substance of the argument itself. This is a common logical fallacy.

The goal of a személyesked is often to discredit the opponent and their viewpoint by making them appear flawed or untrustworthy. Instead of focusing on evidence or reasoning, the person employing this tactic might resort to insults, accusations, or irrelevant personal details. For example, instead of refuting a political proposal, someone might say "You can't trust this idea because the person proposing it is clearly incompetent and has a shady past."

While personal attacks can be emotionally charged and persuasive to some, they are considered fallacious because they do not logically invalidate the opponent's argument. A flawed person can still make a valid point, and a person of good character can make a flawed argument. Recognizing személyesked is important for critical thinking, allowing individuals to identify when a discussion has devolved from a debate of ideas into an attack on a person. It is often seen in political discourse, online arguments, and heated discussions where emotions run high.