Abstract
In a world where appearances can be deceptive and what appears to be blindingly obvious is cynically misrepresented, the idea that the truth can be uncovered as something readily to hand becomes a monstrous lie. These things are not separable: deceptive appearances and conscious manipulation are connected.
Once upon a time a fairy tale was widely entertained that every decent, law-abiding citizen was devoted to ‘the truth’. In this distant land, it was believed that such a thing as a liberal ‘public sphere’ existed, or something approximate to it, where free and democratic dialogue and exchange could take place without fear or favour. Out of this ideal state of affairs a competition of ideas would take place, with the most rational, rigorous and persuasive versions of what constituted truth winning out in the end. Or at least a new compromise might be formulated out of the various claims to a community of truth.
In this communitarian utopia, the public interest would be faithfully serviced by an intellectual caste devoted to a sober diagnosis of the predicaments and problems facing society. On this basis they would make a disinterested prognosis for social improvement. Telling the truth about the powerful and the powerless would in this way be considered a valuable public service on the road to an enlightened civil society.
Once upon a time a fairy tale was widely entertained that every decent, law-abiding citizen was devoted to ‘the truth’. In this distant land, it was believed that such a thing as a liberal ‘public sphere’ existed, or something approximate to it, where free and democratic dialogue and exchange could take place without fear or favour. Out of this ideal state of affairs a competition of ideas would take place, with the most rational, rigorous and persuasive versions of what constituted truth winning out in the end. Or at least a new compromise might be formulated out of the various claims to a community of truth.
In this communitarian utopia, the public interest would be faithfully serviced by an intellectual caste devoted to a sober diagnosis of the predicaments and problems facing society. On this basis they would make a disinterested prognosis for social improvement. Telling the truth about the powerful and the powerless would in this way be considered a valuable public service on the road to an enlightened civil society.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 30-31 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Volume | 2 |
| No. | 27 |
| Specialist publication | Variant: Cross-currents in culture |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 |