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Single Idea 15042

[from 'Truth and Power (interview)' by Michel Foucault, in 3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 9. Rejecting Truth ]

Full Idea

Truth isn't a reward of free spirits, the child of protracted solitude, nor the privilege of those who have succeeded in liberating themselves. Truth is a thing of this world: it is produced only by virtue of multiple forms of constraint.

Gist of Idea

Truth doesn't arise from solitary freedom, but from societies with constraints

Source

Michel Foucault (Truth and Power (interview) [1976], p.131)

Book Reference

Foucault,Michel: 'Essential Works 1954-1984 3: Power', ed/tr. Faubion,J [Penguin 2002], p.131


A Reaction

This obviously has a degree of truth in many areas of human belief, but I just don't buy it as an account of Newton's researches into optics, or Lavoisier's chemistry. Politics is more involved once big money is required.