Truth and Politics

Truth and Politics was written by Hannah Arendt in 1967. It was originally published in the New Yorker, then reprinted in collections such as Between Past and Future (1968) and On Lying and Politics (2022, ISBN: 978-1598537314).

Concept of rational truths and factual truths.

There are similarities between opinions and facts.

Instinctively, we understand that politics is a business of opinions rather than facts. All politicians have an incentive to lie.

To avoid having to tell lies that grow out of control, the efficient strategy is to cause the public to doubt everything. Must prevent politicization of factual truths.

Reading Notes

Arendt is the most pretentious author I have ever had the displeasure of reading.

The discussion of the traditional lie vs. the modern lie is significantly reminiscent of honest graft vs. dishonest graft. That is to say, it is a false equivalence.


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TruthAndPolitics (last edited 2024-09-03 03:04:28 by DominicRicottone)