Thursday 19 October 2017

Truth and Knowledge: A spiral sphere of Illusion to Truth

History of knowledge lies in aspirations of mankind to unravel the beautiful harmonious set up of natural kingdom. Life and sustainability owe much to this quest of mankind; started with myth to divine rules, and later science brings its shadow over primordial understandings. Though, all knowledge is human’s knowledge (Kant), but there must be a huge world of knowledge to which mankind has not ever imagined to reach there. Empiricism, though brings Newtonian certainty and verifiability of a hypothesis, but even a keen observer has his own limitations to ascertain the truth, he might be caught in illusion like prior understanding vis-à-vis Earth and Sun. Enlightenment values transformed the world, and brought Marx, Darwin, Freud, and Einstein into the same place. Notion such as, theory of two worlds were considered as a daydream of Plato, even his disciple Aristotle thought that his teacher has looked up this world into different direction what it seems after empirical observation. Man, instead of born with innate ideas, is born with innate reason. But what happens with this reason once religious animosity and exclusion brings lots of bloodshed and homicide; Man appears as brutish, nasty, short (Hobbes). Leviathan take cares after every subject and State becomes a form of ultimate reason (Hegel); a hypothetical social contract which brings democracy at work (Rousseaeu). In a battle between majority and minority utilitarian garbs its place in policy making to its executions (Bentham). Rule of law and democracy were impossible idea to work unless minimum guarantee of rights is fixed (Dworkin). Lockean inalienable rights proposition coupled with idea off written constitution (Madison) do brings certainty in life of Man. But what next? When today’s knowledge becomes ignorance of tomorrow; in a post-truth world, realpolitik becomes a tool of narcissism and xenophobia, and Machiavellian classical dictum suggests; “it is better to be feared than loved but not despised” (The Prince). Idea of justice has failed to replace ‘might is right.’ No Rawlsian difference principle has a place in a society living, in fact, behind the veil of ignorance ‘forever.’ Sadly but true, Darwinian ‘survival of the fittest’ rule is at its work, i.e., the more you wield the power the more you are a reasonable being. But I believe this naturalism must not continue. The very idea of State is related to justice with all irrespective caste, creed, race, or language. That text of justice would be an empty slogan unless every common is out of that platonic cave; ignorance is no more bliss in a democracy. The very existence of good life depends upon empowerment of every being from lower to middle and upper strata. More we invest in human resources better we’ll produce for tomorrow. Role of a State must be pro-active to insulate civic virtues among its citizens (Aristotle). Virtue of civic ethics can never dwell behind mythology; it will come out with logic and experience. In a post truth world GANDHI is looking to come back with an idea; be true to yourself; all knowledge is within you.

Posted by : Mrityunjay Kumar Singh
Assistant Professor, Campus Law Centre,University of Delhi

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