According to the Nyaya view of classical Indian logic, the statement 'Fire is cool because it is a substance' is flawed because:

AIt contains an untenably contradicted middle term (badhita). ✓ Correct

BThe middle term has an impossible support.

CThe middle term proves the absence of the major term instead of its presence.

DThe middle term proves the presence of the major term instead of its absence.

Correct answer: (A) It contains an untenably contradicted middle term (badhita).

Explanation

The statement fails because it holds an untenably contradicted middle term, a badhita reason.

Coolness is asserted of fire on the ground that fire is a substance.

Direct perception, however, shows unmistakably that fire is hot.

The intended conclusion is thus overturned by a stronger, non-inferential source of knowledge.

A reason whose conclusion is already defeated by perception is a stultified, contradicted middle.

This is precisely the badhita hetvabhasa of Nyaya.

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