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AUTHORITY AS A SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE
115
The modern politics attaches too much importance to number without a regard for quality. The court of law observes both the number of witnesses as well as the quality. The quality is twofold. Firstly the witness should have a first hand knowledge of the incident and secondly he should be above partiality. These criteria correspond to those of Jainism and Yoga systems.
In the present democratic set-up of the political institutes the number is supreme. The opinion of two persons is invalid against that of three persons. This view is supported in the light of pragmatism. Truth, as William James holds, is beyond our approach. No proposition or decision is final. The verdicts of scientists and other so called authorities may change any time. In this position of responsibility of a decision is borne by three in place of two. This view can be useful when there is a tussle between two courses of action with equal strength or when there is a question of choice or taste. But, in finding truth the view of one specialist is far more weightier than hundreds of common men. The democratic way is only a short cut to settle differences. It is not a correct approach to truth.
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