Politics is about power, not truth
January 3, 2014 5:33 PM   Subscribe

"To think that the truth should matter in politics is to commit a category error; politics is about power, not truth..."

Intellectuals' belief in the primacy of truth is an example of deformation professionelle - the tendency to believe that the values of one's own profession should apply more widely than they do."
posted by wuwei (5 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: Linked piece is a bit thin on its own; this might work better with some more context? -- LobsterMitten



 
and yet, if you don't know the truth of your situation, power will become impossible to keep - it's like saying you don't need headlights at night because you have good brakes
posted by pyramid termite at 5:44 PM on January 3, 2014


Myths and outright lies have their uses in building political coalitions, but in the long run they are vulnerable to truth. Past a certain point it's hard not to notice that the gays have not destroyed my marriage. Truth fosters solidarity, and solidarity is the source of democratic power. Many forms of government can get by on brute force and brazen denial of fact, but democracies are either open or in the process of disintegrating.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 5:48 PM on January 3, 2014 [1 favorite]


1. Power relies on the appearance of truth, especially in a democracy. Because ultimately governing requires getting people to go along with you. Presidents, dictators and mongol khans alike, none of them can do anything unless they can convince enough other people that they should be listened to and followed. If that breaks down, so does power.

2. This is kind of flimsy for a post, isn't it? Although I suppose it can be used to start an interesting conversation.
posted by JHarris at 5:50 PM on January 3, 2014


also, i'm kind of wondering why a belief in the primacy of truth is a solely intellectual belief
posted by pyramid termite at 5:51 PM on January 3, 2014


also, i'm kind of wondering why a belief in the primacy of truth is a solely intellectual belief

It seems to me that arguments about the relative insignificance of the truth are far more likely to be found in the mouths of "intellectuals" than anyone else.
posted by yoink at 5:53 PM on January 3, 2014 [1 favorite]


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