Evaluation of Example 11: Prince Charles on Agriculture
Passage:
“After a 35-year career in
agriculture, which took me to all corners of the world in
segments ranging from animal productivity to plant protection,
genetics, and biotechnology, I … reviewed Prince
Charles' speech. I found foolishness and arrogant
condescension. While calling the current state of agriculture
a ‘systematic failure,’ he made absolutely
no reference to the miraculous developments of the past
century … ”
Alan Koepcke, “Aristocratic Agriculture,”
Barron's 92 no. 43 (22 Oct. 2012),
Analsyis:
In the course of pointing out
oversights in Prince Charles' speech, the author unnecessarily
attacks his character by noting the “foolishness” of
the speech and the Prince's “arrogant condescension.”
Although the speaker's remarks indicate Prince Charles' speech
was deficient, the charge of “arrogant condescension”
is not justified. Thus, the ad hominem abusive fallacy is
committed. Since the writer has extensive experience in
agricultural issues, the argumentum ad
verecundiam (argument from authority) fallacy does not occur
since the writer's credentials are pertinent.