In logical arguments, which term describes the act of responding to criticism with a counter-criticism rather than addressing the main issue?

The term that accurately describes the act of responding to criticism with a counter-criticism instead of addressing the original issue is indeed "deflection." This technique is used to divert attention away from the main argument or issue at hand by shifting the focus onto a different topic or criticism.

In this context, when someone employs deflection, they may bring up past mistakes or issues related to the critic, rather than engaging with the valid points raised. This approach can obscure the original argument and hinder productive dialogue, as it avoids confronting the substance of the criticism directly.

In contrast, other terms such as counterclaim specifically refer to opposing arguments rather than the avoidance of the topic, while a red herring is a tactic that introduces irrelevant information to mislead or distract from the main issue. An ad hominem attack directly targets the individual making the argument rather than addressing the argument itself but isn't specifically about counter-criticism.