Question

'Some languages are difficult to learn, Sanskrit is a language, Therefore, Sanskrit is difficult to learn.’ This involves the fallacy of
1. Undistributed middle term
2. Composition
3. Division
4. None of the above

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Undistributed middle term

The correct answer is Undistributed middle term.

• Undistributed middle term
  • ​It is a logical fallacy.
  • Also known as Maldistributed middle.
  • In this fallacy, the middle term is not distributed in at least one of the arguments.
  • Example: 'Some languages are difficult to learn, Sanskrit is a language, Therefore, Sanskrit is difficult to learn.’
    • ​In this example, the middle term language is undistributed since it is a predicate of both arguments.

• Composition 
  • It is the reverse of the Fallacy of Division.
  • In this fallacy, what is true or correct about some parts of an object, then it is applied to whole parts of the object.
  • Example: Because all of the components of this car are heavy, then the car itself must also be heavy.
• Division 
  • It is a reverse of the Fallacy of Composition.
  • In this fallacy, what is true about whole parts of an object, then it is true for the parts of the whole.
  • Example: The boys in my neighborhood like to play cricket. So my new neighbor, John, will like to play cricket with them.