The Problem of Post-Truth. Rethinking the Relationship between Truth and Politics

Abstract

“Post-truth” is a failed concept, both epistemically and politically because its simplification of the relationship between truth and politics cripples our understanding and encourages authoritarianism. This makes the diagnosis of our “post-truth era” as dangerous to democratic politics as relativism with its premature disregard for truth. In order to take the step beyond relativism and “post-truth”, we must conceptualise the relationship between truth and politics differently by starting from a “non-sovereign” understanding of truth.