Ad nauseam

Ad nauseam is a Latin term that translates to "to the point of nausea." It is often used to describe an argument or discussion that has been continued 'to nausea,' in other words, to a tiresome or excessive degree.

Etymology

The term ad nauseam originates from Latin, where 'ad' means 'to' and 'nauseam' means 'nausea.' It is used to denote something that has been done or repeated so often that it has become annoying or tiresome.

Usage

In rhetoric, the term is used to describe an argument that has been made continuously and extensively until it has lost its significance or impact. This could be due to the argument being repeated too often, or it could be due to the argument being extended to an unnecessary length. The term can also be used to describe a discussion that has been prolonged to the point of being tiresome or boring.

In logic, an argumentum ad nauseam is a fallacy that involves repeating an argument to the point where the person opposing the argument becomes too tired to continue the debate, thus giving the appearance that the argument has been effectively made.

Examples

An example of an argumentum ad nauseam could be a political debate where one side continuously repeats the same points, regardless of the responses from the other side. This can lead to the audience becoming tired of the argument and potentially accepting the points being made, not due to their validity, but due to the repetition.

See also

• Argumentum ad infinitum
• Argumentum ad absurdum
• Argumentum ad hominem
• Argumentum ad populum

References

• The Art of Being Right by Arthur Schopenhauer
• A Dictionary of Logical Terms by Richard Robinson

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