According to Classical Indian School of Logic (Nyāya) the argument — “Sound is…
2024
According to Classical Indian School of Logic (Nyāya) the argument — “Sound is eternal because it is produced” — is fallacious because:
Answer: A. The middle term instead of being pervaded by the presence of major term is pervaded by its absence. — ConceptIn Nyāya inference, the middle term (hetu) must be pervaded by the major term (sādhya): wherever the reason occurs, the property to be proved must…
- A.
The middle term instead of being pervaded by the presence of major term is pervaded by its absence.
- B.
The locus of the middle term is impossible.
- C.
The middle term instead of being pervaded by the absence of major term is pervaded by its presence.
- D.
It lacks any major term.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
In Nyāya inference, the middle term (hetu) must be pervaded by the major term (sādhya): wherever the reason occurs, the property to be proved must occur.
If the middle term is instead pervaded by the absence of the major term, the reason establishes the opposite of the thesis. This is the viruddha (contradictory) fallacy.
Application
Here the subject is sound, the major term is eternal, and the middle term is produced. Whatever is produced is non-eternal; therefore, produced is pervaded by the absence of eternal.
Contrast
The locus of the middle term is not impossible: sound can be described as produced.
The argument does contain a major term, namely eternal.
Pervasion by the presence of eternal would support the thesis, whereas the stated reason has the opposite relation.
Therefore, the fallacy occurs because the middle term is pervaded by the absence of the major term.