Given below are two statements: Statement I: According to the Classical Indian…
2023
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: According to the Classical Indian School of logic (Nyaya), the middle term must be present in the minor term.
Statement II: According to the Nyaya School, the middle term must be absent in all negative instances in which the major term is absent.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Answer: A. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct — CONCEPTIn Nyāya inference, a sound middle term (hetu) must connect the subject under discussion with the property to be proved and must also exclude…
- A.
Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
- B.
Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
- C.
Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
- D.
Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
CONCEPT
In Nyāya inference, a sound middle term (hetu) must connect the subject under discussion with the property to be proved and must also exclude counterinstances.
Two relevant marks are pakṣadharmatā—the hetu occurs in the minor term or subject—and vipakṣāsattva (vyatireka)—the hetu is absent wherever the major term or probandum is absent.
APPLICATION
Statement I expresses pakṣadharmatā: the middle term must be present in the minor term. Therefore, Statement I is correct.
Statement II expresses vipakṣāsattva: in negative instances where the major term is absent, the middle term must also be absent. Therefore, Statement II is correct.
CONTRAST
“Both Statement I and Statement II are correct” retains both the subject-presence test and the negative-instance exclusion test.
“Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect” would discard both of these standard tests of a sound hetu.
“Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect” retains pakṣadharmatā but discards vipakṣāsattva.
“Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct” discards pakṣadharmatā but retains vipakṣāsattva.
CROSS-CHECK
Using the smoke–fire example, smoke occurs on the hill under discussion, while it is absent in fireless places such as a lake. Both tests are thus satisfied, so both statements are correct.