Hi,
My response to this is that we do tend to (because we are socialised to),
accept more easily the "truths"
of those in power, however there is a problematic assumption associated
with this. That is, that it is only people in power who can claim the
right to truth, not those who are oppressed, disenfranchised, poor, etc.
That is why colonialism and other oppressive regimes around the world,
got way with it for so long, because of the power bases that they
construct. Of course one needs to make a distinction between those who
lay claims to truth through power, and are not necessarily oppressive in the
same way as systems like colonialism and apartheid.
However, those who are oppressed can, I would argue, lay more claim to truth
than those in power, however by virtue of being disempowered, have this
taken away from them. For example in South Africa, the system of apartheid
claimed to be the "truth" for decades, but it was the oppressed who were
denied their truth, the right to equality and freedom.
Of course, I realise that I am perhaps interpreting TRUTH slightly
differently. However I do believe that claims even if they are not
necessarily
valid (which is more or less, how I see truth), are generally more
acceptable if they come from sources of power. Your views ... ?
On Fri, 30 May 1997 HaTaWa@xxxxxxx wrote:
> <<Back to square one I suppose. I don't even think this is the best, or only
> reading of Foucualt's notion of truth. But if it is, does this mean that the
> powerful possess the most truths? And if not why not?>>
>
> I don't think that the powerful possess the most truths but they are they
> only ones who possess what is considered a Truth. Further, because of their
> power, they dictate the narrative in which justification...truths get the
> label of "real"...takes place. Everyone possess power and truths, but to say
> that we all possess EQUAL truths denies the fact that some narratives are
> valued over others merely because of power in our society.
> I am assuming that this group has already gone around and around on the point
> of truth statements..."There is no Truth, only truths...which is itself a
> Truth statement", but I would be interested in what people in this group
> think about the socialization of truth. How much construction goes on in our
> social development that creates not only Truths but truths...thus the role of
> psychological and physical (if you care to make the distinction) dissent.
>
> Thanks for any response to this,
> Heather.
>