Which of the following arguments is fallacious because the middle term is…

Concept

In Nyāya inference, the middle term (hetu) must establish an invariable relation with the major term. It is tested through positive instances (sapakṣa) and negative instances (vipakṣa).

Anupasaṃhāri Savyabhicāra occurs when the minor term is all-inclusive. Because nothing remains outside it, no separate sapakṣa or vipakṣa is available; the middle term is therefore non-exclusive.

Application

In “All things are non-eternal because they are knowable,” the minor term is “all things.” This includes the entire domain, so there is no external positive or negative instance against which the reason “knowable” can be tested.

Contrast

• “The hill has fire because it is knowable” exemplifies Sādhāraṇa Savyabhicāra: “knowable” is too wide because it occurs in both fiery and non-fiery things.

• “Fire is cold because it is a substance” is Bādhita: perception directly contradicts the predicate “cold.”

• “Sound is eternal because it is produced” is Viruddha: being produced supports non-eternality, the opposite of the proposed predicate.

Result

Thus, the argument “All things are non-eternal because they are knowable” contains the non-exclusive middle.