136 The Special Sociological Errors 



causes of social phenomena are almost infinitely 

 complex. To reduce these effects to a single 

 cause results in complete confusion. This sub- 

 ject has already been touched upon in considering 

 the true nature of social struggles. ^ It is not the 

 purpose at the present time to inquire into these 

 complex causes or to examine the economic facts of 

 the argument ; we are concerned here simply with 

 the fallacy from the point of view of logic. It is 

 impossible to deny that some wars are followed, 

 not by activity and prosperity, but by a relapse 

 into barbarism and stagnation such as followed 

 the victory of the Turks in the Balkans, and the 

 Civil Wars of Mexico and Venezuela. War pro- 

 duces then sometimes civilization and sometimes 

 barbarism. The same cause, according to the 

 philosophy of force, produces diametrically oppo- 

 site effects. 



A final sophistry is due to the failure to dis- 

 tinguish between the statement of a fact and the 

 pronouncement of a judgment. If it is said that 

 war has been permanent during the entire historic 

 period, then this is a simple statement of fact, but 

 if it is said that war has been a benefit, this is to 

 pronounce a judgment. The statement of fact 

 may be perfectly true and the judgment abso- 

 lutely false. If the statement is made as follows, 

 this confusion does not arise and we are dealing 

 with realities. "During the historical period 



» See Chapter III. on the Biological Errors, pp. 88-95. 



