NTA NET

Paper - 1

Unit – VI
Paper - I
Logical Reasoning
Indian Logic
 INDIAN LOGIC
 Logic in general is the science and art of a right thinking, it is not concerned with reality about
which we are thinking but only with the operation of thinking itself. In ancient time it was
considered to all the sciences, and for this reason they called it the organon or instrument of
science in the most extended sense of what the Indians called Sa̅ stra that means ‘precept’,
‘rules’, ‘manual’ etc. about which no science indeed, but which every science pre-supposed.

 Ashta̅dasha vidya (18 types of Sa̅stra) was accepted by ancient Indian seers. Among these
eighteen (18) vidya̅s Nya̅ya, that is also known as ‘Anviksiki’ (Logic) is most important. It has
been esteemed as the lamp of all sciences, the resource of all actions and the shelter of all
virtues.

 Indian logic in its rudimentary stage can be traced as early as the sixth century B.C. At the
very early stage, especially at the time of Upanishad, ‘Atmavidya’ that was identified
‘Anviksiki’ in the later period, got a crucial role in ancient Indian scholastic circle. ‘Anviksiki’
is an incorporation of two subjects viz. the soul and the theory of reasons.

 The theory of reason is also known as hetu-sa̅ stra or hetu- vidya̅. It is also called as tarkavidya̅
or vadavidya̅, the art of debates and discussions, in as much as it dealt with rules for carrying
on disputation in learned assemblies called parisad. Kautilya, the author of Arthasa̅ stra has
referred it as the lamp of all vidyas or discourses.
 Anviksiki, in the second stage of its development, as we find in the Nya̅ ya-Bha̅sya, was widely
known as Nya̅ya-Sa̅stra. The word “Nya̅ya” popularly signifies “right” or “Justice”. The
Nya̅ya-Sa̅stra is therefore the science of right judgement or true reasoning. Technically, the
word signifies syllogism or a speech of five parts.
The Nya̅ya-Sutra treats of sixteen topics or categories like, Prama̅ na, prameya, etc.
which, according to the commentators on the Nya̅ya-Sutra, represent stages in the
course of a debate between a disputant and his respondent. But after their struggle
with the Bauddha and Jaina logicians for over a thousand years, Hindu logicians
founds it expedient in treating of the Nya̅ya, to take up only one topic, viz.
Prama̅na, to the exclusion of remaining fifteen topics.

Knowledge (buddhi)

Presentation (anubhava) Memory (smriti)

Valid (Prama) Non- Valid (aprama) True False

Doubt Error Hypothetical Argument

(samsaya) (viparyyaya) (tarka)

Perception Inference Comparison Testimony

(pratyaksa) (anumana) (upamana) (sabda)

 STRUCTURE AND KINDS OF ANUMA̅NA:-

 Anuma̅na has been defined in the Nya̅ ya system as the knowledge of an

object, not by direct observation, but by means of the knowledge of a linga or
sign and that of its universal relation (Vya̅ pti) with the inferred object.
Gangesa, the famous writer of Navya-Nyaya’s most popular text, “Tattva-
Cintamani” refutes the view that perception is the only source of knowledge.
According to him inference is also a source of knowledge.

 It leads to the knowledge of a thing as possessing a character, say fire, because

of its having another character, smoke, which we apprehend and which we
know to be always connected with it.

 Thus in anuma̅na we arrive at the knowledge of an object through the

medium of two acts of knowledge or propositions.
 THE CONSTITUENTS OF INFERENCE:-

Inference (anuma̅na) always consists of not less than three propositions and more than three terms. In
inference we arrive at the knowledge of some unperceived character of a thing through the knowledge of some
linga or sign in it and that of vyapti or universal relation between the sign and the inferred character.

 There is first the knowledge of what is called the linga or mark in relation to the paksa or the subject of
inference. This is generally a perceptual judgement relating to the linga or middle term with the Paksa or
minor term of inference (lingada̅rsana), as when I see that the hill is smoky, and infer that it is fiery.

 Secondly; inference requires the knowledge of Vya̅ pti or a universal relation between the linga̅ (probans) and
the sa̅dhy a (probandum), or the middle and major terms.
 This knowledge of the linga or middle term as always related to the sa̅ dhya or major term is the result of our
previous experience of their relation to each other. Hence it is a memory judgment in which we think of the
linga as invariably connected with the sa̅dhya (Vya̅ptismarana), e.g. ‘all smoky objects are fiery’.

 Thirdly, we have the inferential knowledge (anumiti) as resulting from the previous knowledge of the linga
and that of its universal relation (vya̅ pti) with the sa̅dhya. It is a proposition which relates the paksa or minor
term with the sa̅dhya or major term, e.g. ‘the hill is fiery.’

 The inferential cognition (anumiti) is a proposition which follows from the first two propositions and so
corresponds to the conclusion of the syllogism.
 First Premise:-The Hill is Smoky. (S is M)
 Second Premise: - All Smoky objects are Fiery. (M is P) (Memory Judgement or Vyapti Smarana)
 Conclusion: - The Hill is Fiery. (S is P)
 Corresponding to the minor, major and middle terms of the syllogism, inference in Indian logic
contains three terms, namely, Paksa, Sadhya and Hetu. While the Paksa is the subject, the Sadhya is
the object of inference. The third term of inference is called the linga or sign because it serves to
indicate that which we do not perceive. Like the middle term of a syllogism, it must occur at least
twice in the course of an inference. It is found once in relation to the Paksa or minor term and then in
relation to the Sadhya or the major term. That is, the paksa is related to the sadhya through their
common relation to the hetu or middle term.
 There are five characteristics of the middle term.
 The first is Paksadharmata, or its being a character of the Paksa. The middle term must be related to
the minor term, e.g. the hill is smoky(S is M).
 The second is Sapaksasattva or its presence in all positive instances in which the major exists. The
middle must be distributively related to the major, e.g. all smoky objects are fiery. (M is P)
 The third is Vipaksasa̅ttva, or its absence in all negative instances in which the major is absent, e.g.
whatever is not fiery is not smoky (No not-P is M).
 The fourth is aba̅dhitavisayatva, or the uncontradictedness of its object. The middle term must not aim
at establishing such absurd and contradictory objects as the coolness of fire or the squareness of a
circle.
 The fifth character of the middle is asatpratipaksatva, or the absence of counteracting reasons leading
to a contradictory conclusion. These five characteristics, or at least four of them, must be found in the
middle term of a valid inference. If not, there will be fallacies.
CLASSIFIATION AND LOGICAL FORMS OF INFERENCE:-
The Naiyayikas give us three different classifications of inference. According to the
first, inference is of two kinds, namely, Svarthanumana (Inference for one self) and
Pararthanumana (Inference for the sake of others). This is a psychological
classification which has in view the use or purpose which an inference serves.
 The first does not stand in need of demonstration but the second does. The
demonstration consists of a syllogism of five parts.

 Pratijna Hetu Udaharana Upanaya Nigamana

1. A Proposition – This hill is full of fire.

2. A Reason – Because it is full of smoke.
3. An Example – All that is full of smoke is full of fire, as a kitchen.
4. An Application – This hill is full of smoke.
5. A Conclusion – Therefore this hill is full of fire.
According to another classification, inference is said to be of three kinds, namely –
Purvavat, Sesavat and Samanyatodrsta.
1. In Purvavat inference, we infer the unperceived effect from a perceived cause. This is
illustrated when from the presence of dark heavy clouds in the sky we infer that there will
be rainfall.

2. A Sesavat inference is that in which we infer the unperceived cause from a perceived
effect. This is illustrated in the inference of previous rain from the rise of the water in the
river and its swift muddy current.
In both these inferences the vya̅ pti or the universal relation between the major and middle
terms is a uniform relation of causality between them. These inferences thus depend on
scientific inductions.
3. In Samanyatodrsta inference, the universal relation between major and middle terms
does not depend on a causal uniformity. Here we infer one from the other, not because
they are causally connected, but because they are uniformly related to each other in our
experience.
 This is illustrated when one infers that the sun moves because, like other moving
objects, its position changes, or, when we argue that a thing must have some attributes
because it is like substance.
 Here the inference depends not on a causal connection, but on certain observed points
of similarity between different objects of experience. So, it is more akin to an analogical
argument than to syllogistic inference.
 A kevala-Vyatireki inference is that in which the middle term is negatively related to the
major term. It depends on a vya̅pti or a universal relation between the absence of the
major term and that of the middle term. Accordingly, the knowledge of vya̅ pti is here
arrived at only through the method of agreement in absence (vyatireka), since there is no
positive instance of agreement in presence between the middle and major terms excepting
the minor term. This may be illustrated by the following inferences:
 (I) No non-soul is animate;
 All living beings are animate;
 Therefore all living beings have souls.
 (II) What is not different from the other elements has no smell;
 The earth has smell;
 Therefore, the earth is different from the other elements.
 Symbolically put the inferences stand thus:
 No not-P is M
 S is M
 Therefore S is P.
 In the second inference above, it will be seen, the middle term ‘smell’ is the differentia of
the minor term ‘earth.’ An inference which is thus based on the differentia (laksana) as the
middle term is also called kevala-vyatireki. In it the minor term is con-extensive with the
middle. Hence we have no positive instance of the coexistence of the middle with any
term but the minor. So there can be vya̅ pti or universal relation only between the absence
of the middle and the absence of the major term.
We cannot point to any positive instance of agreement in presence etween the major and middle terms, except those
covered by the minor term. Hence the major premise is a universal negative proposition-arrived at by simple
enumeration of negative instances of agreement in absence between the major and middle terms. The minor premise is
a universal affirmative proposition. But although one of the premises is negative, the conclusion is affirmative, which is
against the general syllogistic rules of Formal Logic.

An inference is called anvaya-vyatireki when its middle term is both positively and negatively related to the major
term. In it there is vya̅pti or a universal relation between the presence of the middle and the presence of the major term
as well as between the absence of the major and the absence of the middle term.
The knowledge of the vya̅pti on which the inference depends, is arrived at through the joint method of agreement in
presence and in absence.

The vya̅pti or the universal proposition is affirmative (anvayi) when it is the result of an enumeration of positive
instances of agreement in presence between the middle and major terms. It is negative (vyatireki) when it is based on
the simple enumeration of negative instances of agreement in absence between the middle and major terms.

The difference between the universal affirmative and universal negative propositions (anvaya-vyapti and vyatireka-
vyapti) is that the subject of the affirmative proposition becomes the predicate, and the contradictory of the predicate of
the affirmative proposition becomes the subject in the corresponding negative proposition. Hence an anvaya-vyatireki
inference may be based on either a universal affirmative or a universal negative proposition as its major premise. It is
illustrated in the following pair of inferences:
(I) All cases of smoke are cases of fire;
The hill is a case of smoke;
Therefore the hill is a case of fire.
(II) No case of not-fire is a case of smoke;
The hill is a case of smoke;
Therefore the hill is a case of fire.
In view of the different methods of establishing Vyapti or a universal relation between the
major and middle terms, inferences have been classified into the
1. Kevalla̅nvayi, 2. Kevalavyatireki, and 3. Anvaya-vyatireki.

An inference is called kevalanvayi when it is based on a middle term which is only
positively related to the major term. Here the knowledge of Vyapti between the middle and
major terms is arrived at only through the method of agreement in presence (anvaya), since
there is no negative instance of their agreement in absence.

This is illustrated in the following inference:

Major Premise: All knowable objects are nameable;
Minor Premise: The pot is a knowable object;
Conclusion: The pot is nameable.

In this inference the major premise is a universal affirmative proposition in which the
predicate ‘nameable’ is affirmed of all knowable objects. This universal proposition is
arrived at by simple enumeration of the positive instances of agreement in presence between
the knowable and the nameable. Corresponding to this universal affirmative proposition we
cannot have a real universal negative proposition like ‘No unnameable object is knowable,’
for we cannot point to or name anything that is unnameable. The minor premise and the
conclusion of this inference are also universal affirmative propositions and cannot be
otherwise. Hence with regard to its logical form the Kevalanvayi inference is a syllogism of
the first mood of the first figure, technically called BARBARA.
 THE FALLACIES OF INFERENCE:-
In Indian logic the fallacies of inference are all material fallacies. So far as the logical forms of inference are
concerned, there can be no fallacy, since they are the same for all valid inferences. An inference, therefore,
becomes fallacious by reason of its material conditions. The Nyaya account of the fallacies of inference is
accordingly limited to those of its members or constituent propositions, and these have been finally reduced
to those of the hetu or the reason. For the purpose of proof an inference is made to consist of five members,
namely, pratijna, hetu, udaharana, upanaya and nigamana. As such, the validity of an inference depends on
the validity of the Pratijna and other constituent parts of it. If there is anything wrong with any of its
members, the syllogism as a whole becomes fallacious. Hence there will be as many fallacies of inference as
there are fallacies of its component parts, from the first proposition down to the conclusion. So we may
speak of fallacies of the Pratijan, etc., as coming under the fallacy of inference (Nyayabhasa). But it must be
admitted that the validity of an inference depends ultimately on the validity of the hetu or the reason
employed in it. So also the members of a syllogism turn out to be right or wrong according as they elaborate
a right or wrong reason. So the Naiyayikas bring the fallacies of inference under the fallacies of the reason
(hetvabhasa) and consider a separate treatment of inferential fallacies due to the propositum, example, etc.
(Pratijnabhasa, drstantabhasa) as necessary and superfluous.

Now the question is: What is a fallacious middle (hetu)? How are we to distinguish between a valid and an
invalid middle? The fallacious middle or hetvabhasa is one that appears as, but really is not, a valid reason
or middle term of an inference. It appears as a valid ground of inference because it satisfies some of the
conditions of a valid middle term. But on closer view it is found to be fallacious because it does not fulfil all
the conditions of a valid ground of inference. As we have seen before, there are five conditions of the hetu or
the middle term of an inference.
 1. First the middle must be a characteristic of the minor term (paksadharmta).
 2. Secondly, it must be distributively related to the major term, i.e. the major must be present in all the instances
in which the middle is present.(sapaksasattva).
 3. Thirdly, and as a corollary of the second condition, the middle term must be absent in all cases in which the
major is absent (Vipaksasattva).
 4. Fourthly, the middle term must not relate to obviously contradictory, and absurd objects like the coolness of
fire, etc.(abadhitavisayatva).
 5. Fifthly, it must not itself be validly contradicted by some other ground or middle term (asatpratipaksatva).
 Of these five conditions, the third does not apply to the middle term of a Kevalanvayi inference, because it is
such that no case of its absence or non-existence can be found. Hence, with regard to it we cannot say that the
middle term must be absent in all case in which the major is absent. Contrariwise, the second condition does not
apply to the middle term of a kevalavyatireki inference since here the middle term is always negatively related
to the major term. There is a universal relation between the absence of the middle and that of the major term. Of
such a middle term we cannot say that whatever it is present the major must the present. It is only in the case of
anvyavyatireki inferences that the middle term must satisfy all the five conditions. Hence it has been said that a
valid middle term is one that satisfies the five or at least the four conditions as explained above. As contrasted
with this an invalid middle term (hetvabhasa) is that which violates one or other of the conditions of a valid
ground of inference (hetu). It may be employed as the hetu or the middle term of an inference, but it fails to
prove the conclusion it is intended to prove. There are different forms of the fallacious middle according to the
different circumstances under which it may arise.
 All fallacious middle terms have been classified under the heads of the savyabhica̅ ra, viruddha, prakaranasama
or satpratipaksa, sadhyasama or asiddha, ka̅la̅tita and ba̅dhita.
 Kesava Misra observes that the fallacies of definition such as ativya̅ pti or ‘the too wide,’ avya̅pti or ‘the too
narrow’ and asambhava or ‘the false’ also come under the fallacies of the middle term.
 In both the old and the modern schools of the Nyaya, the inferential fallacies have been classified under five
heads. The first four kinds of fallacies bear the same names or at least the same significance in both the schools.
The last kind of fallacy, however, is not only called by different names, but bears substantially different
meanings in the two schools. It is in view of this fact that I have taken the two names to stand for two kinds of
fallacies of the middle term. Hence we get six kinds of fallacies in place of the five enumerated in the Nyaya
treatises.
 1. THE FALLACY OF SAVYABHICA̅RA OR THE
IRREGULAR MIDDLE:-
 It is first kind of inferential fallacy. Here hetu is found to lead to no one single conclusion, but to
different opposite conclusions.
 This fallacy arises when the middle term violates its second condition (sapaksasattva). This
condition requires that the major must be present in all the cases in which the middle is present.
But the savyabhica̅ra hetu, however, is not uniformly concomitant with the major term. It is related
to both the existence and non-existence of the major term. It is therefore called anaika̅ ntika or an
ir-regular concomitant of the sa̅dhya or the major term.
 Hence from such a middle term we can infer both the existence and the non-existence of the major
term. The fallacy, Savyabhica̅ra (inconstant reason) has three subdivisions viz. a.
sa̅dha̅rana(common), b. asa̅dha̅rana(uncommon) and c. anupasamha̅ri (inconclusive).
 A. Sa̅dha̅rana(Common):-
 Here the middle term is in some cases related to the major and in the other cases related to the
absence of the major. As for example:-
All knowable objects are fiery;
The hill is knowable;
Therefore, the hill is fiery.
Here the middle term ‘knowable’ is indifferently related to
both fiery objects like the kitchen and fireless objects like
the lake.

All knowable being thus not fiery we cannot conclude

that the hill is fiery because it is knowable. Rather, it is as
much true to say that, for the same reason, the hill is
fireless.
 B. Asa̅dha̅rana (Uncommon):-
It is called asa̅dha̅rana (uncommon) because it is a
peculiar form of the fallacy of the irregular middle.
Here middle term is related neither to things in which
the major exists nor to these in which it does not exist.
e.g. Sound is eternal because there is soundness.
Sound has soundness;
Soundness or sabdatva is eternal;
Therefore, Sound is eternal.
It is found neither in eternal object like the soul nor in
other non-eternal things like the pot.
 C. Anupasamha̅ri (Inconclusive):-
All objects are eternal, because they are knowable.
All knowable things are eternal;
All objects are knowable;
Therefore, All objects are eternal.
Here the distribution of the middle term cannot be
proved either positively or negatively. The middle term
is related to minor term that stands not for any definite
individual or class of individuals, but indefinitely for all
objects.
(In this fallacy sadhya (the inferent) and the hetu (the
reason ) are nowhere absent.
 2. VIRUDDHA (CONTRADICTORY REASON):-
“Sound is eternal, because it is caused.”
In Savyabhica̅ra or the irregular middle only fails to prove the conclusions.
Whereas the viruddha or the contradictory middle disproves it or proves
the contradictory proposition.
All eternal objects are caused;
Sound is caused;
Therefore Sound is eternal.
According to the later Naiyayikas, from Uddyotakar downwards, the hetu
or the reason is called viruddha when it disproves the very proposition
which it is meant to prove.
This happens when a middle term exists, not in the objects in which the
major exists, but in those in which the major does not exist. That is, the
viruddha or the contradictory middle is that which is pervaded by the
absence of the major term.
3. PRAKARANASAMA OR THE COUNTERACTED
MIDDLE:- (Satpratipaksin)
 Literally, it means a reason which is similar to the point at issue (Prakarana). We
have a point at issue when there are two opposite views with regard to the same
subject, both of which are equally possible, so that they only give rise to a state of
mental vacillation as to the truth of the matter.
 Now when a middle term does not go farther than producing a state of mental
oscillation between two opposite views we have a case of the prakaranasama
middle.
 “Sound is eternal, because the properties of the non-eternal are not found in it”
 And “Sound is not-eternal, because the properties of the eternal are not found in it.”
 The two middle terms being counteracted by each other cannot lead to any definite
conclusion and we are left with the same question with which we started, namely,
whether sound is eternal or non-eternal.
 In savyabhicara the same character of the minor is taken as a middle term that may
lead to opposite conclusions, in the prakaranasama two different characters of the
minor are taken as the middle terms leading to opposite conclusions.
 In viruddha or contradictory middle which by itself proves the opposite of what it is
intended to prove.
 But here in prakaranasama the opposite conclusion is proved by a different middle
term.
 4. THE FALLACY OF ASIDDHA OR THE UNPROVED
MIDDLE:-

It is called also sa̅dhyasama or the asiddha. The word sa̅dhyasama means a
middle term which is similar to the sa̅dhya or the major term. Hence the
sa̅dhyasama stands for a middle term which requires to be proved as much as
the major term. This means that the sadhyasama middle is not a proved or an
established fact, but an asiddha or unproved assumption.
The fallacy of the asiddha occurs when the middle term is wrongly assumed in
any of the premises and so cannot be taken to prove the conclusion.
It follows that the premises which contain the false middle become themselves
false.
Thus the fallacy of the asiddha virtually stands for the fallacy of false
premises, which is a form of the material fallacies in western logic.

A̅sryasiddha Svaru̅ pa̅siddha Vya̅ pyatva̅siddha

 A. A̅sryasiddha :-
One condition of a valid middle term is that it must be
present in the minor term. The minor term is thus the locus of
the middle. Hence if the minor term is unreal and fictitious,
the middle cannot be related to it.
So the result is that the minor premise, in which the middle is
related to an unreal minor, becomes false.
Example:-
‘The sky-lotus is fragrant, because it belongs to the class of
lotus.’
Class of lotus have fragrant;
Sky-lotus belongs to the class of lotus;
Therefore, the sky-lotus is fragrant.
 B. Svaru̅pa̅siddha :-

It is a middle term which cannot be proved to be real in relation to the minor term. It
is a middle term which is not found in the minor term.
The existence of the middle in the minor being unreal, the minor premise which
relates it to the minor term becomes false. E.g. Sound is eternal, because it is visible.
All visible things are eternal;
Sound is visible;
Therefore Sound is eternal.
Here the middle term ‘ visible’ is wrongly assumed in the minor term ‘sound’ and is
not justified by facts.
It has also four divisions:-

Bhagasiddha Visesanasiddha Vivesyasiddha

Asamarthavisesyasiddha
 1. Bha̅ga̅siddha or Ekadesasiddha:-
If the minor term stands for a number of things and the
middle is found in some but not all of them, we have the
fallacy of bhagasiddha. E.g. ‘The four kinds of atoms of
earth; etc., are eternal, because they are fragrant.
Here the middle ‘fragrant’ is related only to a part of the
minor term, namely, the atoms of earth, but not to the
other kinds of atoms.
Hence the middle term is partly false and so equivalent to
the Svaru̅pa̅siddha middle. So, this fallacy is included
within the fallacy of svaru̅pa̅siddha.
 2. Visesana̅siddha:-

Here the middle term has a false

adjunct, as when one argues sound is
eternal, because being a substance it
is intangible, while sound is not a
substance but a quality.
 3. Vivesyasiddha:-

Where the middle is an unreal

substantive of a real adjective; e.g.
‘sound is eternal, because it is an
intangible substance.’
 4. Asamarthavisesya̅siddha:-

Here the middle is an unmeaning

substantive of a significant adjective,
e.g. ‘sound is eternal, because it is an
uncaused quality’; in which the
adjective ‘uncaused’ renders the word
‘quality’ quite superfluous.
 C. Vya̅pyatva̅siddha:-
 Vya̅pyatva̅siddha is a middle term whose concomitance (Vya̅pti) with
the major cannot be proved. The fallacy of the vya̅pyatva̅siddha may
arise in two ways.
All reals are momentary;
Sound is real;
Therefore Sound is momentary.
Here the major premise is false; because there is no universal relation
between the ‘real’ and the ‘momentary’.
ii. ‘The hill is a case of smoke, because it is a case of fire.’
This inference is invalid, because the relation of the middle terms ‘fire’
to the major ‘smoke’ is conditional on its being ‘fire’ from wet fuel.
This fallacy of the conditional middle is technically called
anyatha̅siddha.
The fallacies of Kala̅tita and ba̅dhita or the mistimed and
contradicted middles:-
 Kalatita is called the mistimed middle. It is illustrated in the inference ‘sound is durable, because it is
manifested by conjunction, like colour.’ The colour of a thing is manifested when the thing comes in
contact with light, although the colour exists before and after the contact. So also, it is argued, sound
which is manifested by the contact between two things (samyogavyangya) must be durable, i.e. exist
before and after the contact. But the argument is fallacious because its middle term is vitiated by a
limitation in time. In the case of colour the manifestation takes place simultaneously with the contact
between light and the coloured object. The manifestation of sound, however, is separated by an
interval of time from the contact between two things. In fact, we hear the sound when the contact
between the two has ceased. Hence it cannot be due to the contact, because when the cause has
ceased, the effect also must cease. The middle term being incongruous with the given example fails to
prove the conclusion and is therefore fallacious.
 In this sense the kalatita means a middle term which is subject to different conditions in the two
premises of the syllogism. As such, it becomes a kind of fallacy that corresponds to the fallacy of
accident in Western logic.
 Kalatita stands for a middle term vitiated by a limitation in time, but the ba̅ dhita means a middle term
which is contradicted by some other source of knowledge (prama̅ na̅ntarena). A middle term is
contradicted when it leads to a conclusion, the opposite of which is proved to be true by some other
prama̅na. This is illustrated by the argument ‘fire is cool, because it is a substance.’ Here the middle
term ‘substance,’ which seeks to prove that fire is cool, is contradicted because we know from tactual
perception that fire is not cold but hot.
 The fallacy of satpratipaksa, as explained before, is different from this fallacy of ba̅ dhita because in
the former one inference is contradicted by another inference, while in the latter an inference is
contradicted by a non-inferential source of knowledge.
 Conclusion:
 Apart from the fallacies of inference, the Naiyayikas deal with certain other
fallacies which occur in connection with the art of debate.
 The fallacy of chala consists in using the same word to mean different objects in
the course of a debate (fallacy of ambiguity).
 It is three kinds- Va̅kchala, Sa̅ma̅nyachala and Upaca̅rachala
 i.Va̅kchala or the fallacy of equivocation- The same word is used in different
senses. e.g. ‘The boy is navakambala.’ ‘He is not nava-kambala.’
 ii. Sa̅ma̅nyachala:-
 The same word is taken to mean an individual and the class to which it belong,
e.g. one may say -
 ‘This Brahmin is a learned man.’ ‘All Brahmins are not learned man’
 iii. In Upaca̅rachala or the fallacy of figure of speech, confusion is made
between the figurative and literal senses of an expression, e.g. when one says –
 ‘The scaffolds cry out’ and Scaffolds cannot cry.
 In inference we have only one thing, namely, the hill, since the fire is not
perceived. The hill being perceived cannot be said to be the object of inferences.
What is therefore inferred is the hill as possessed of fire.’