In philosophy, ideas stand or fall on **reasons**, not reputations. The ad hominem fallacy happens when someone attacks the person instead of engaging with their argument. Yet, from Socrates to modern analytic philosophy, the standard has always been the same: evaluate the logic, examine the evidence, test the assumptions. “You’re not qualified.” “You’re too young.” “You’re biased.” None of that addresses the argument itself. Philosophy teaches intellectual humility: arguments must be answered w