What is your opinion on Nietzsche's ad hominem attacks?

Question

Do you feel Nietzsche's arguments in his works were improved or minimized by his ad hominem attacks? ie. "Socrates was ugly" and "Germans are drunks"

BTW I do have an opinion on this I am just curious to know what other Nietzsche readers think about this.

Answer 1

minimized... ad hominem attacks, to me, are a sign of weakness... go after the person's beliefs / theories / data / analysis, not the person! ack... reminds me of donald and rosie.

Answer 2

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/39313

Though I haven't read Nietzsche's work extensively (more biographical information/short pieces with implications for language and rhetoric), most every academic in the field of logic would agree that there is no possible way an ad hominem attack could strengthen any argument. That's why such attacks are called logical fallacies.

On the other hand, they greatly affect the _tone_ of the writing and influence the reader to perceive the author as either more venomous or less intelligent or perhaps more amusing than originally thought.

In my case, it makes me love Nietzsche even more. Because Germans are drunks.

Answer 3

It gives me this nihilistic feeling that I just can't describe. I just want to do things now because tomorrow, the world might not exist.

Answer 4

NIETZCHE SPELLED BACKWARDS IS WHAT?

EXACTLY....

NOW, A REAL QUESTION IS IN THE CIRCUMFRANCE OF THE ARGUMENT OF HIS SPEECH TOWARDS HOLISTIC SIN VS. MAN MADE DOGMA COMPOUNDED BY THE SOCIAL CASTE SYSTEM CREATED DURING IMPERLIASTIC GENOCIDE. FURTHER ELEVATED BY THE WEAK ECONOMIC SYSTEM BEING DEPLOYED BY HIS REGIME WHICH DROVE HIS NIHILISTIC PERCEPTION RIGHT THROUGH IS ENERTIA.

Answer 5

Needs more garlic.