Truth as Sacrifice? Ethical Considerations on a philosophical topos

• Applicant: Dr. Andrea Christian Bertino
• Subject Area: Practical Philosophy ; History of Philosophy
• Term: from 2012 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 230136823

The following research proposal treats the ethical bases of the search for truth and its general aim is to define the conditions under which we can sensibly speak of sacrifice in connection with truth. We first of all pay attention to the relationship between philosophy and classical theories of sacrifice and gift, specifically (1) whether and how the knowledge and communication of truth imply sacrifices, then (2), in a descriptive sense, we ask which role does sacrifice play in our perception of truthfulness and authenticity. In addition, (3) the condition of the legitimization of sacrifice should be indicated in a normative sense. Leading hypotheses will be: (a) In any given situation the knowledge and communication of truth(s) have a price whose determination may raise certain ethical challenges. (b) Our understanding of truth can be deepened if the kind of sacrifice involved with the search of truth is disclosed by starting from a ritual and religious point of view.In the first section we start therefore with current theories of sacrifice and their reflection in philosophy; on this basis the triadic structure of the ritual sacrifice, its asymmetrical economy and also its effects on community life will be explored, in order to gain a heuristic guide for the investigation of the function of sacrifice in the philosophical discourse about truth.In the second section we establish the relationship between truth and sacrifice in modern philosophy. Considering examples of Bruno, Hegel, Nietzsche and Heidegger proof will be provided that this may be named a firmly anchored topos which even allows the possibility to speak of truth as sacrifice. It will be illustrated that the concept of sacrifice on the one hand serves to the critique of conceptions of truth as correspondence, and on the other hand becomes a mean for the self-legitimization of the philosopher.In the third section we discuss the ethical dimension of sacrifice for the sake of truth. The underlying semantic of the word sacrifice has to be analyzed in order to interpret different sacrificial actions approprately therefore it will be concluded that the word 'sacrifice' is used as a thick, descriptive and normative, ethical concept. Additionally we distinguish between the question about the legitimization of sacrifice in general and of sacrifice for the sake of truth in particular and we identify the aporethical character of deonthological and teleological legitimization attempts. Taking all this into account a hermeneutic and narrative approach to sacrifice for sake of the truth will prove to be a feasable approach; considering this, it will be possible to describe and justify the role of sacrifice for the sake of truth in our concepts of a good life. The question about the legitimization of sacrifices for the sake of truth will be highlighted at the end in the question about the moral value of truthfulness and authenticity.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants