In the classical Indian school of logic (Nyāya), which fallacy occurs when the…

Concept

In Nyāya inference, a valid reason (hetu) must occur in similar instances (sapakṣa) and be absent from dissimilar instances (vipakṣa).

A reason becomes inconclusive (anaikāntika) when its distribution fails to establish an exclusive invariable relation with the property to be proved (sādhya).

Application

A middle term that is too wide extends beyond the positive instances and also occurs in negative instances. This distribution is the sādhāraṇa subtype of anaikāntika.

Contrast

• Anupasaṃhāri concerns an all-inclusive subject for which no negative instance is available to test the relation.

• Bādhita concerns a conclusion contradicted by a stronger means of valid knowledge.

• Asādhāraṇa concerns a reason confined to the subject, without occurrence in comparable positive instances.

Cross-check and result

Sādhāraṇa is found in both sapakṣa and vipakṣa, so it cannot distinguish cases where the sādhya is present from cases where it is absent. Therefore, the fallacy is Sādhāraṇa.