Widespread Belief on Proof of Truth 131 



that there is no basis for this view in the nature 

 of the association itself. On the contrary the 

 benefits of association are in proportion to its 

 extent and the larger the area it includes the more 

 advantageous it becomes. The objection is based 

 on the confusion of federation with centralization. 

 The history of the process of federation in America 

 and the strength of the sentiment in favour of 

 State rights even after this doctrine has largely 

 outlived its usefulness, indicates that there is no 

 need to fear that national rights are likely to be 

 swamped in a process of world centralization. 

 All the indications are that in the future as in 

 the past the process of unity will lag far behind 

 the needs of the nations. The centrifugal forces 

 will more than outbalance the centripetal. The 

 remedy for bad organization or too much centraliza- 

 tion is not to be found in disorganization or an- 

 archy. It is to be found in good organization with 

 a wise balance between the central and local 

 powers. 



Along with the errors of one-sided reasoning 

 and the confusion due to lack of penetrating think- 

 ing should be classed such sophisms as : 



1. That belief is a proof of reality, 



2. The fallacy of the transitory phase, 



3. The sophism post hoc ergo propter hoc. 



I. The philosophy of force holds that if a 

 belief has been dominant in the world for a long 



