The Volokh Conspiracy
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Is Calling Someone a Neanderthal …
an "ad hominin" argument?
Yes, one sometimes does see talk of "ad hominin attacks," as in these court opinions—though I think Neanderthals aren't quite what the authors had in mind. My advice: Avoid both "ad homnin" and "per curium."
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I would think that calling someone a neanderthal could be considered an "ad hominoid" argument.
[rimshot]
Don't be such a HOMO Sapiens!
Just think how awful legal writing would be if Law French were still in use.
If they sound alike, is that an "ad homonym"?
Don’t be over polite! No need to avoid being accusative.
My brother had a 23andMe Genetic study done which indicates he is at the very high end spectrum for carrying Neanderthal heredity (around 4%). Assuming I am the same mix, I have been sitting on this waiting for someone to insult me by calling me a neanderthal/cro-magnon/caveman so as to be able to retort that they are "racist".
shouldn't it be ad homininum?
OK, but what about Phil Hartman's caveman lawyer? Is he SOL?