Truth versus Power

— Cornelis de Bondt

Statement: Truth and power are absolutely inexchangeable concepts; truth possesses no power, and power no truth. The reason for this is that truth is not linked to any interest, whereas power is by definition. In the statement 1 + 1 = 2, there is no interest at stake. I do not desire the truth. Truth is an indicative; power is an imperative, something must be.

In addition to truth in the form of a proposition, we also speak of existential truth, like in ‘true love’ or ‘true art’. The same applies here, unconditional love or pure art are selfless. However, this doesn’t mean they cannot evoke interest.

The truth of a proposition seems objectwise in nature, but this is an illusion. Someone who, for example under duress, proclaims such a truth has not internalized it, but is parroting it. Gathering information is objectwise, knowledge arises from a subjectwise act. {See: Objectwise versus Subjectwise]

Precisely because of the fact that truth has no power whatsoever, power is not able to damage or destroy the truth.


Diogenes Laërtius writes in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers [from the third century AD] about an encounter between the young Alexander of Macedon and Diogenes of Sinope, who is also known as Diogenes the Cynic. Alexander was an admirer of Diogenes. He stood before the barrel in which Diogenes was living, and told him he could ask for any favour, to which Diogenes then asked Alexander to step aside, as he was blocking his sunlight. When Alexander said that if he were not Alexander, he would want to be Diogenes, Diogenes replied: “If I were not Diogenes, I would also want to be Diogenes”.

— Cornelis de Bondt, Loosduinen, March 17, 2024