Fallacy 7 — Undistributed Middle: Fallacy 7, Undistributed Middle, is the formal fallacy from Session 7: the middle term is not distributed in either premise, so the conclusion does not follow. "All Muslims believe in God.
The middle term proves nothing: All Christians believe in God. Therefore all Christians are Muslims" — the middle term "believe in God" is not distributed, so the argument proves nothing.
Fallacy 8 — Circular Reasoning: This is the example given in the Final Assessment (Slide 73, Q17). Fallacy 8, Circular Reasoning (begging the question), assumes in the premise exactly what it is trying to prove.
Going around in a circle: "The Quran is true because the Quran says it is true" uses the conclusion as its own premise. A circular argument feels like a proof, but it proves nothing — it goes around in a circle and returns to its starting point.
Example
Assuming the very thing to prove: "This scholar is trustworthy because trustworthy people say he is trustworthy" — the argument assumes the very thing it must prove.
Key Terms
- Undistributed Middle — حد اوسط غیر موزع
- Circular Reasoning (Al-Dawr) — دائروی استدلال
Quran or Hadith
None quoted; the example in Topic 10.5, Fallacy 7, is from the Final Assessment (Slide 73).
Fresh diagram to be drawn: Two small "spot the fallacy" cards, as in Topic 10.2.
Note: Slide 63 was not read; based on the filename and the Final Assessment. Verify before publication.
- Fallacy 7, Undistributed Middle, is the formal fallacy from Session 7: the middle term is not distributed in either premise, so the conclusion does not follow.
- "This scholar is trustworthy because trustworthy people say he is trustworthy" — the argument assumes the very thing it must prove.