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.