In the standard Nyāya account, which of the following statements correctly…
2024
In the standard Nyāya account, which of the following statements correctly characterizes Anupasaṃhāri Hetvābhāsa?
Answer: C. The minor term stands for all possible objects — ConceptIn Nyāya inference, the minor term (pakṣa) is the subject to which the probandum (sādhya) is attributed, while the middle term (hetu) supplies the…
- A.
It is a form of Viruddha Hetvabhāsa
- B.
The middle term is related to a minor term that stands only for a definite individual or class
- C.
The minor term stands for all possible objects
- D.
The Hetu disproves the very proposition which it is meant to prove
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
In Nyāya inference, the minor term (pakṣa) is the subject to which the probandum (sādhya) is attributed, while the middle term (hetu) supplies the reason.
A universal relation is tested through similar cases (sapakṣa) and dissimilar cases (vipakṣa). Anupasaṃhāri arises when the pakṣa is all-inclusive, so no separate comparison cases remain.
Application
The claim that the minor term stands for all possible objects gives the pakṣa an all-inclusive scope. Since every object is already inside that scope, no independent sapakṣa or vipakṣa remains for testing the relation.
Contrast
Calling Anupasaṃhāri a form of Viruddha confuses two distinct fallacies; Viruddha concerns a reason that establishes the contrary proposition.
A minor term restricted to a definite individual or class has a limited domain, unlike an all-inclusive pakṣa.
A hetu that disproves the proposition it was meant to prove describes the mechanism of Viruddha, not the all-inclusive-domain defect.
Hence, the correct claim is: the minor term stands for all possible objects.