Which of the following are essential characteristics of the middle term according to classical Indian Logicians:
(A) It must be present in minor term
(B) It must be present in all positive instances in which the major term is present.
(C) It must be absent in all negative instances in which the major term is absent.
(D) It must be in compatiable with the minor term.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is C

According to classical Indian logic, especially the Nyaya school of thought, the middle term (hetu) plays a crucial role in inferential reasoning. Its essential characteristics are:
· (A) It must be present in the minor term: The middle term must be found in the subject of the inference, ensuring a logical connection. For example, in the inference "There is fire on the hill because there is smoke," the middle term (smoke) must be present on the hill (minor term).
· (B) It must be present in all positive instances in which the major term is present: The middle term must be universally associated with the major term (e.g., smoke is always associated with fire).
· (C) It must be absent in all negative instances in which the major term is absent: The middle term must not be found in any instance where the major term is absent (e.g., in places where there is no fire, there must be no smoke).
Information Booster: 1. The middle term (hetu) connects the minor term (paksha) and the major term (sadhya) in an inference.
2. The conditions of the middle term ensure validity and prevent fallacies.
3. The Nyaya syllogism includes five steps: Proposition, Reason, Example, Application, and Conclusion.
4. Proper presence and absence of the middle term are crucial to avoid errors like Asiddha Hetu (unproved reason) or Vyabhichara Hetu (irregular reason).
5. Classical Indian logicians emphasize the logical integrity of the middle term for reliable inference.
Additional Knowledge:
(D) It must be incompatible with the minor term: This statement is incorrect. The middle term must always be compatible with the minor term to establish the inferential relationship.

• If the Hetu is incompatible with the minor term, it means the subject and the reason can never exist together.

• Example: “The hill has fire because it has water.”

  • Here, “water” is incompatible with “fire.”

  • Such a Hetu is invalid