Trust, Truth & Political Conversations

Adrian Brockless wants a recognition of human value in political debate.

- Adrian Brockless

In this article I discuss the relationship between trust and truth, their value, and our inherent need for them. In particular, I want to explore how these concepts function in political conversations between individuals and in conversations between political parties and the electorate. I will argue that these ideas both constitute and express how we conceive of one another. This suggests that they're deeply intertwined with our understanding of humanity. Politics is bound up with what we believe to be important for ourselves and others. It involves persuading others of particular views, and of the practical implications of those views. This is evident in the legacies of political thinkers, such as Adam Smith and Karl Marx. Surveying the landscape of politics offers the possibility of shedding light on how political arguments interact with the concept of humanity in ways that may not be immediately obvious.

Truth Values

The term 'political spin' and 'fake news' became prominent in recent years, the former during Tony Blair's government and the latter during the rise of Donald Trump. But these practices are far from new; they have simply been rebranded into modern parlance. In Ancient Greece, for instance, the Sophists - who can be thought of as the equivalent of modern political spin doctors - were highly sought after for their rhetorical skills, which could sway public opinion. Gorgias, a renowned Sophist, claimed in Plato's dialogue that bears his name, that sophistry allowed him to answer any question put to him (truthfully or not). Long before 'fake news' entered our lexicon, on July 17, 1900, both The Times and