Hetvabhasa General Idea – UGC NET Question

Hetvābhāsa literally means “semblance of a reason.” It denotes a middle term that looks like a proper hetu but, on analysis, fails to meet the criteria for a valid inferential link. Such a reason might superficially satisfy some conditions or persuade the untrained, yet it does not secure the intended conclusion. Recognising hetvābhāsas is essential for diagnosing fallacies and maintaining rigour in debate.

Option A:
Option A describes a genuine hetu that meets trairūpya conditions; that is precisely what a hetvābhāsa is not.

Option B:
Option B correctly captures the deceptive nature of hetvābhāsa as a reason that has the appearance of validity but lacks true inferential force.

Option C:
Option C refers to dṛṣṭānta, the example offered to illustrate vyāpti; this is distinct from the middle term itself.

Option D:
Option D describes vyāpti, the invariable concomitance that underlies proper inference, whereas hetvābhāsa arises when this relation is missing or misapplied.