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Which of the following arguments is fallacious because the middle term is present in both positive and negative instances and violates the rule that it should not be present in the negative instances?

AFire is cold because it is a substance
BThe hill has fire because it is knowable ✓ Correct
CSound is eternal because it is produced
DWherever there is fire there is smoke
Correct answer: (B) The hill has fire because it is knowable
Explanation

The fallacious argument is "the hill has fire because it is knowable".

Here the middle term is knowable, offered as the reason for inferring fire.

But everything whatever is knowable, so the term is present alike where fire exists and where it does not.

A reason found in both positive and negative instances strays and cannot fix the conclusion, violating the rule that it must be absent from negative cases.

This straying middle is the savyabhichara, the non-exclusive or inconclusive fallacy.

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