Which fallacy attacks the person rather than the argument?

• A. Bandwagon
• B. False dichotomy
• C. Begging the question
• D. Ad hominem

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is recognizing an ad hominem fallacy: attacking the person making the argument instead of addressing the argument itself. When someone dismisses a claim by focusing on who is making it—like saying a point is worthless because the speaker isn’t a scientist, or because of their character, background, or motives—real evidence and reasoning about the claim aren’t being evaluated.

For example, if someone argues that a new vaccine is safe and effective, but another person responds, “You can’t trust that opinion because you’re not a doctor,” they’re shifting attention from the scientific evidence to the speaker’s credentials. That’s an ad hominem because it argues about the person rather than the actual claim and its supporting facts.

The other common fallacies named here don’t fit this pattern. A bandwagon appeal says many people believe something, which is about popularity, not the person or the argument’s merits. A false dichotomy presents only two choices, ignoring other possibilities. Begging the question asks you to accept the conclusion within the premise, essentially circular reasoning. So the fallacy that matches attacking the person rather than the argument is the one that targets the individual making the claim.