Refuting the Critic

There are a number of reasons why you might want to refute the critic, whether he is online or not. This article will explore the reasons why you may not need to refute online criticism, particularly if you want to maintain positive influence and keep yourself on the front foot. First, let's examine the nature of the criticism and how it can affect you. Next, we'll discuss the difference between fallacious and non-fallacious criticism.

Fallacious
One of the most common fallacies is the ad hominem fallacy, which refers to the use of irrelevant criticism of the arguer's position. For example, an opponent might argue that a person's job is tax-supported, which is obviously irrelevant to his political claim. But an opponent might use circumstantial evidence to support his claim, such as pointing out that a politician's job is tax-supported if he has an interest in his political position.

Non-fallacious
If you are trying to argue against someone's argument, refuting the critic as fallacious is one option. This technique uses opposite reasoning directions and has a prima facie plausibility. Paralysis of analysis is a common example. In this case, the critic is arguing against an argument that he or she finds fallacious. This is an example of a fallacy of comparison.

Novel
The idea that a novel is a community of writers has become a popular notion, but a satirical slant on the genre has been popular since the 1930s. Those who claim that the novel is about community are like aspartame, and their views are a travesty of the original intent of literature. A vast middle class scribe has taken to writing because Habitat for Humanity has become too demanding. The notion of community in literature is as silly as it is unreal. Ernest Hemingway once said, "The novel is a lonely life." This nonsense is easy to substitute for genuine literary work.

Illogical
While it is possible to refute critics, it is often difficult to know who is using which illogical arguments. In general, critics would employ arguments and assertions to argue against a particular viewpoint, while objections on the ground would be a request for clarification, reformulation, or retract. But in some instances, critics use arguments and assertions to undermine an argument. The following are some examples of illogical arguments used against critics.