Phantom Man Argument: A phantom man argument is a rhetorical fallacy where someone responds to an imaginary claim that was never made. It’s essentially a form of projection: the responder attributes to the author a position that exists only in their own anxieties, assumptions, or preconceptions, then argues against that phantom. Contrast with Straw Man: -Straw Man: Misrepresents or distorts the original argument, but at least stays on topic. -Phantom Man: Doesn’t engage the original argument at all — it invents a position out of thin air and attacks that. Key Features: -Imaginary target — The argument being refuted never appeared in the original text. -Projection-driven — It reflects the responder’s fears or biases more than the author’s words. -Derailing — It pulls the discussion off track, forcing the author to defend against a ghost.