Illicit process in syllogism – UGC NET Question

Illicit process is the general name for the fallacy that occurs when a term is distributed in the conclusion without being distributed in the corresponding premise. This violates the requirement that distribution in the conclusion must be supported by distribution in the premises. The fallacy can take the specific form of illicit major or illicit minor. Hence the description in the stem matches illicit process.

Option A:
Option A, illicit major, occurs when the major term is distributed in the conclusion but not in the major premise. It is one specific type of illicit process. Since the stem speaks in general terms, illicit major alone is too narrow.

Option B:
Option B, illicit minor, arises when the minor term is distributed in the conclusion but not in the minor premise. This is the other specific form of the general fallacy. Again, it does not cover both possibilities mentioned implicitly in the stem.

Option C:
Option C, undistributed middle, is a different fallacy where the middle term is never distributed in either premise. It does not involve a term becoming newly distributed in the conclusion. Therefore undistributed middle is not the correct answer.

Option D:
Option D correctly names illicit process as the overarching fallacy of mis-distribution between premise and conclusion. It captures the improper extension of a term’s scope in the conclusion. Thus illicit process is the most appropriate choice.