Which fallacy attacks a person's character unfairly?

The fallacy that attacks a person's character unfairly is Ad Hominem. This type of fallacy occurs when the focus shifts from the argument at hand to the personal characteristics, motives, or actions of the individual presenting the argument, rather than engaging with the content of their claims. It undermines the logic of the discussion because it distracts from the relevant issues and instead seeks to discredit the opponent based on unrelated personal attributes.

For example, instead of addressing the arguments related to a policy, a speaker may attack another speaker's integrity or background, suggesting that because the person has a controversial past, their current arguments are invalid. This tactic can be particularly harmful in public discourse as it prevents constructive debate and can mislead audiences into making judgments based on personal attacks rather than logical reasoning.

In contrast, the other choices refer to different types of fallacies that do not specifically involve personal attacks. Ad Baculum relies on threats to persuade, Appeal to Ignorance asserts that a claim is true simply because it hasn't been proven false, and Straw Man misrepresents an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack. Each of these fallacies has its own distinct characteristics that differentiate them from an Ad Hominem attack.