Which of the following arguments is fallacious, as per the classical school of logic, because of the middle term being too narrow?
AAll things are non-eternal because they are knowable
BThe hill has fire because it is knowable
CSound is eternal because it is audible ✓ Correct
DWherever there is fire, there is smoke
Correct answer: (C) Sound is eternal because it is audible
Explanation
'Sound is eternal because it is audible' rests on a middle term that is too narrow.
Audibility belongs to sound alone and to nothing else whatever.
A reason present only in the subject can prove nothing by concomitance.
With no positive or negative instance elsewhere, it establishes no vyapti.
Such an over-narrow, uncommon middle is the asadharana (uncommon) fallacy.
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